By Kaylee LaRocque
Editor
H hundreds of Sailors, retir-
ees, family members
and friends of the VS-24
"Scouts" turned out to bid fare-
well to the squadron during a
disestablishment ceremony in
Hangar 116 March 22.
The event began as 18 former
VS-24 commanding- officers in
attendance were recognized as
they walked through a row of
sideboys before taking their seats:'
After the other officials were
recognized, the Honor Support
Team presented the colors for the
playing of the national anthem
and the invocation was given by
Chaplain (Lt.) Robert Peters.
The guest speaker for the event
was Rear Adm. Michael Miller,
U.S. Fleet Forces Command,
deputy chief of staff, Global
Force Management and Joint
Operations and a former VS-24
commanding officer.
"It's kind of weird for me to be
here today, because today my
squadron is going away, tomor-
row my former carrier, USS John
F. Kennedy is being decommis-
sioned, sometime this summer we
are going to use USS Coronado as
a target and I was reminded this
morning that only two more and

Photos by MC2 Brian Smarr
U.S. Fleet Forces Command Deputy Chief of Staff Global Force Management and joint. Operations Rear Adm.
Michael Miller, commends former and current members of VS-24 during the squadron's disestablishment cer-
emony March 22.
I'd be an ace," said Miller, who "It seems like only yesterday my flight jacket. As the S-3 com-
was also a former commanding that I was wearing a VS-24 ball- munity races to the finish line,
officer of the carrier, cap and the Duty Cat patch on after today's decommission, only

three squadrons will remain," he
continued.
"This decommissioning is nei-
ther good-nor bad, just the nature
of naval aviation. Aircraft are
born, flown and ultimately retire
but the life and vibrancy of this
community has never rested on
the quality of its aircraft," contin-
ued Miller.
"The strength of the Viking
community has always been its
people. For those of you about
to join new outfits, I know the
coming transition will be a chal-
lenge but I also know your legacy
of achievement will not let the
nation down."
Also giving some remarks
during the ceremony was Capt.
Daniel Dixon, commander,
Carrier Air Wing Eight.
"I really want to say some-
thing about Cmdr. Ted Mills,
VS-24's commanding officer. It's
not easy to disestablish a squad-
ron and find new homes for all
your people. It's a lot more dif-
ficult than I understood. There
is a lot involved and everything
has been documented and done
the way it's supposed to be done,"
he said shortly before presenting
Mills with a Meritorious Service

This year's Navy and Marine Corps
Relief Society (NMCRS) Fund Drive
began March 19 with an organiza-
tional kick-off at the VP-30 auditorium.
The fund drive is held each year to gener-
ate donations to benefit the local NMCRS
- an organization that assists hundreds
of Sailors and Marines and their families
each month in the Jacksonville area.
Commander, Navy Region Southeast
Rear Adm. Mark Boensel spoke at the
kick-off to the key workers that will be col-
lecting donations during this year's drive.

"This one of the most important things
you will' do this year," he said. "Because
you're not just working for Navy/Marine
Corps Relief Society, but also for your ship-
mates."
The donations collected during the drive
go towards various things including emer-
gency funds for Sailors and Marines, pay-
ing off high-interest debts and even college
for children of Sailors and Marines killed
in combat.
"Children of those who are killed in
battle get an automatic scholarship to a

See NMCRS, Page 15

Photos by Kaylee LaRocque
Rear, Adm. Michael Miller, U.S. Fleet Forces Command deputy chief of staff, Global Force
Management and joint Operations, relays how proud he is to be part of the S-3 commu-
nity during a plaque dedication at Heritage Park March 22. Looking on are (from left),
Chuck Stevenson, Lockheed Martin director for P-3/S-3 programs,. Richard Kirkland,
Lockheed Martin vice president of Maritime Surveillance Enterprise, Miller and Capt.
Joseph McClain, commander, Sea Control Wing U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The plaque was
donated by Lockheed Martin to pay tribute to all squadrons past and present in the S-3
community.

S-3B Viking community

monument dedicated '

in Heritage Park

By Lt. Cmdr. Jon Still
Sea Control Wing, Atlantic ..

large gathering of both past and
present warriors and support per-
sonnel from the S-3 Viking com-
munity came. out March 22, to see a
monument to the East Coast S-3 Viking
community unveiled and dedicated in
Heritage Park at NAS Jacksonville.
The 5-foot by 5-foot granite monument
is emblazoned with an S-3 Viking and
displays color-engraved insignia and
dates of service of the Sea Control Wing

Lockheed Martin donated this granite
plaque in remembrance of the S-3 commu-
nity. The plaque is on display in Heritage
Park near the S-3 Viking aircraft on display.

Atlantic, Sea Control Weapons School,

See PLAQUE, Page 15

TO-UCHING Town hall meetings slated meeting will be held at the base chapel April 3 at 6:30 p.m. for the residents
TOUCHING on base at NAS Jacksonville. Another town hall meeting is planned for April 4
From the NAS jax Housing Office at 6:30 p.m. at the Yellow Water Youth Center for those residents living in the
B A S E Yellow Water Housing Area.
SThe Department of the Navy has selected GMH Military Housing to enter t that time, GMH Military Housing will resent their proposed plans for
into exclusive negotiations to become the managing partner for the public- At that tg me.GMH Military Housingt w ll presenfihei.n fosed ans for
B ,A S EM HB private venture (PPV) for family housing at NAS Jacksonville. A town hall operatng and improving the family housing facilities and will
__ answer any questions about the transition.

I

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o2 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, thursday , March 29, 2007

Looking back in time...

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S. File photo
, The dispensary operated from Building 8 in 1949. It later became the home of the Navy Legal Service Office and the
,.. Veterinary Clinic until it was demolished several years ago.

ON THE HOMEFRONT

Lessons in the dugout

are no place for a mom

\By Sarah Smiley
SSpecial Contributor

S Tou stood at the tee, staring out
to the field, which seemed to
tL' reduce you to a small speck
; against a canvas of green grass and
red, dusty baseball dirt. Part boy and
,part baby, your knobby knees touched
- the middle, but your rounded
=mmy poked through the t-shirt
Ti.inging so low, it covered your shorts.
. You raised the bat to your shoulder.
The large, red batter's helmet wobbled
on your head. From the splintered
stands, behind home plate, I clutched
.my hands together.
; The coaches had initially suggested
we put you back in a younger league,
with the 4 to 5-year-olds. "He's small
'fAi- his age," they had said. "He might
et hurt." But I knew what they
meant. - your son can't catch a ball.
Xe doesn't run fast.' And sometimes
he misses when he swings.
-Dad spent hours in the front yard
working with you. Then he convinced
the coaches to let you play with the
*her 6-year-olds. "Sending him back,"
Dad said, "will break his spirit."
Thinking back on it now, as I sat
behind you, separated by a metal
fence at your very first game, I won-
dered if dad and I had made a mis-
take. The other kids will laugh at him,
I thought. He'll get the first "out."
Someone behind me said, "That boy
is -o small." A lump rose in my throat.
You, took a practice swing. The other
players and the spectators quieted
,to a few scattered whispers. All eyes

were on you, my child. You drew the
bat to your shoulder again, ready for
the real thing.
Please just let him get on first, I
thought. It will mean the world to
him. You swung the bat. The motion
was awkward and the bat was too
.high. You missed the ball. I lowered
my head to hide the sudden rush of
tears in my eyes. Someone from the
other team laughed.
The coach patted you on the back
and whispered in your ear. Then he
stood back and you pulled up the bat
again. With. a timid shift of your hips,
you tried to put all your 40 pounds
behind the next swing. The ball flew
from the tee and landed right at the
pitcher's feet. "He'll never make it to
first," someone said.
Now, I'm' not a screamer. I'm hard-
ly competitive, and I don't care for
sports. But right then, as your feet
left home plate, I stood in my seat and
yelled as loud as I could, "Run, Ford!
Don't look back, just run!"
But the ball beat you to the base.
You were out, and the inning was
over. You ran with the other kids to
the dugout. I rushed to meet you, but
you disappeared behind the cinder-
block wall.
Will the kids tease him? I wondered.
Will he cry? Dad told me to let it go.
It's all part of the game, part of being
a boy, he said. After many roasts at
military parties, Dad knows that
being part of a team means learning
to roll with the punches, and that
sometimes, oddly, males bond over
ridicule and gentle teasing.

Most Interesting Experience: Going on
a world cruise on board LISS Enterprise in 20(6.

Words of Wisdom: Li'e like you are
going to die tolnllrro\\ and dream like you \%ill
li\e fore er.

Do not go in the dugout, he told me.
For 10 painful minutes, you were
invisible to me. I would never know
what went on in the dugout. It wasn't
my place. You had to learn this les-
son on your own. Sometimes, I guess,
being a mother meant allowing you to
have experiences that will break my
heart while they build your character.
You were at bat again for the last
inning. We were separated by more
than a metal fence now. In the dugout
you had grown in.ways I will never
understand.
You planted your feet firmly in the
dirt and pulled up the bat. The coach
gave you an encouraging smile. You
swung, but I couldn't bear to watch.
Someone yelled, "Run, Ford," so I
opened my eyes and saw you running
to first. You made it.
The crowd laughed as you did a
victory dance. Two batters later, you
were safe again on third. You looked
to see if I was watching, Someday, I
thought, you'll be looking for, another
girl in the stands. But for now it is
me.
The next batter hit the ball and you
ran home. Then you circled back to
the dugout, leaving me there, behind
the fence, at home base, where I will
always be cheering for you.
Sarah Smiley can be reached for
comments at www.sarahsmiley.com.

HEY MONEYMANj

Hey. MonevMan!
I am a chief petty officer
and I plan to retire next
year. I have some savings
and investments, but I am
not ready to fully retire yet
and I plan to go to work.
Do you have any recom-
mendations on which jobs
might be available for mili-
tary retirees?
MonevMan Sez:
The civilian world is look-
ing for a "few good retir-
ees!" In fact, employers are
looking for the skills you
learned and used while in
the military. In addition,
your security clearance will
be a big benefit because
more and more jobs being
offered today require a secu-
rity clearance. According to
an article in the April 2007
issue of Money, numerous
jobs are out there wait-
ing for those with military
experience. The top five
jobs for those leaving the
military are:
1. Operations or intel-
ligence analyst
2. Network systems
manager I
3. Field service engi-
neer
4. .Logistics/operations

Volunteers

Easter Eu

manager
5. Senior trainer or
training manager
Projected job openings
range from $86,000 for
the field service manager
to more than $260,000 for
the network systems man-
ager. Salaries range from
$51,000 to $141,000. The
article also offered these
recommendations:
* Take off your rank.
Don't be married to
your hometown.
Mine the military
way. Show that what you
bring to the table is reliabil-
ity, ethics and leadership.
* Translate the
military speak. Tell your
employer in plain English,
not military jargon, what
you have accomplished.
* Get a makeover.
Business attire should not
look or fit like a military
uniform.
Congratulations on a
successful military career,
thank you for your service
to our country and good
luck as you move on to new
challenges and opportuni-
ties.
More questions? Call Hey
MoneyMan at 778-0353.

needed for

Hunt

V7 volunteers are needed for the annual Easter Egg
Hunt tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the McCaffery Softball
Complex. For more information, call 778-9772.

Uniform change coming up

he shift toothe sum-
mer uniform of
the day for all sta-
tions and ships within
Navy Region Southeast in
Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi and South
Carolina will take effect

April 2. The uniform of the
day will be service dress
white, summer whites or
service khakis for officers
and chief petty officers and
service dress whites or sum-
mer whites for El through
E6.

SUNDAY SERVICES

You are invited to the following Base
Chapel Worship Services this Sunday:

NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer..................... Capt. Chip Dobson
NAS Jacksonville Executive Officer......................Capt. Chuck Tamblyn
Command Master Chief.................................CMDCM(SW) Chris Green
Public Affairs Officer.................................. ...... ... ........ Rick Crews
Assistant Public Affairs Officer................................... Miriam S. Gallet
Naval Air Station Jacksonville Editorial Staff
Editor....................................................................... Kaylee LaRocque
Assistant Editor.....................................MC1 (SW/AW) Heather Ewton
Staff Writer ..................................MC1 (AW) Melissa Robertson-Leake
Staff Writer .............................................MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck
Design/Layout ............................................................. George Atchley
The JAx AIR NEw is an authorized publication for members of the Mili-
tary Services. Contents of the JAK AIR NEWS do not necessarily reflect the
official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department
of Defense, or the Department of the Navy. The appearance of advertis-
ing in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not consti-
tute endorsement by the Department of Defense, or The Florida Times-
Union, of the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in
the publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital
status, physical Ifandicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit fac-
tor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or refraction of this
equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher
shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is
corrected.
The deadline for all story and photo submissions is close of business the
Friday before publication, and can be sent to jaxairnews@comcast.net.
The deadline for classified submissions is noon Monday. Questions or
comments can be directed to the editor. The JAflit Ns can be reached at
(904) 542-3531, fax (904) 542-1534, email JaxAirNews@comcast.net or
write the JaxAImNms, Box 2, NAS Jacksonville, Fla., 32212-5000.
The JA AIR NEWS is published by The Florida Times-Union, a private
firm in no way connected with the U. S. Navy under exclusive written
agreement with the U. S. Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. It is
published every Thursday by The Florida Times-Union, whose offices are
at 1 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Estimated readership over
32,000. Distribution by The Florida Times-Union.
Advertisements are solicited by the publisher and inquiries regarding
advertisements should be directed to:
axJAirNews
Ellen S. Rykert, Military Publications Manager
1 Riverside Avenue * Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-359-4168
Linda Edenfield, Advertising Sales Manager * 904-359-4336

By Loren Barnes
Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs
Twenty Navy medicine
Sailors returned home
March 17 to excited fami-
lies and' friends at the NAS
Jacksonville Air Terminal.
After six months with Joint
Task Force (JTF) Guantanamo,
Cuba, providing the very best in*
medical support to the mission
there, they were finally home to
spend a bit of quality time with
friends and family before once
again serving patients on the
home front. That's something you
don't have to be Irish to tip a pint
to.
HN Margarita Lopez, HM3
Vanessa Garcia, HN Rolando
Brooks and HM3 Eliseo Rodriguez
were ready to do just that with
HM3 Ronald Fanniel of the Naval
Hospital Jacksonville Command
Education Department when he
returned. With St. Patty's Day
flowers in hand, they anxiously
waited to see him step into the
terminal.
When the long-deployed Sailor
finally made it home he said, "I'm
really,, really happy about getting
back. I've been waiting for six
months to get here. I'm just wait-
ing to see where I'll be working in
the hospital. As far as accomplish-
ing the mission Fanniel said, "We
were stellar in what we did. We
were top notch as usual -- we're
Navy representing a great naval

-w4

* A.,.

Photo by HM 1 (SW) Michael Morgan
HM2 Pedro Huertasdiaz of Naval Branch Health Clinic Kings Bay, Ga., is happy to be home as he is greeted by his
friends at the homecoming.
hospital!" to Veracosa, Spain. "This deploy- he said.
Fanniel said the mission was ment was a lot different from that Naval Hospital Jacksonville
demanding, especially compared one but you know you've got to do continues to have medical person-
to his first deployment which was what you've got to do sometimes," nel deployed to JTF Guantanamo

and to various other locations
supporting the war on terrorism',
including Expeditionary Medical
Facility Kuwait and in Iraq.
Waiting with welcome
home balloons for HM2 Pedro
Huertasdiaz, a dental technician
from Naval Branch Health Clinic
Kings Bay, Ga., were Oderay
Palacios with Astrid and Guilliam
Amaya. They couldn't wait to see
him return. Palacios explained
that Huertasdiaz had missed a lot
while he was away. "We're very
excited about his being back. He
was away over Christmas and all
the holidays. With him back we're
planning to go to New York tb
visit his family," she said.
Returning with the Naval
Hospital Jacksonville and NBHC
personnel were other
naval medical facility Sailors:.
Navy Nurse, Lt. Shayne Morris of
Camp Lejeune, N.C., was greeted
by a highly charged family with
signs in hand. His wife, Stephanie
summed up what all the families
and friends there to greet them
felt. "You know what, he's my
hero!" she said. Choking a little
and with tears welling in her eyes
she added, "Not a moment goe�
by that I'm not grateful for him -
especially when I know that he'll
be walking thrQugh that door to
see his four kidg." A few minutes
later, Morris made it home to his
wife and children Osten, MacE,
Seth and KD.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month I JDRFRi

From the Fleet and Family Support Center
A pril is designated nationally and
throughout the Navy as Child
Abuse Prevention Month.
A variety of activities to promote aware-
ness and educational opportunities for ser-
vice members and their families will be
offered by the NAS Jax Fleet and Family
Support Center (FFSC), Morale, Welfare
and Recreation Department and the Child
Development Center (CDC) throughout the
month. All personnel are invited to stop by
the FFSC lobby to pick up educational and
informational materials on children and
Parenting.
The FFSC is offering general military
training (GMT) to all commands on child

abuse awareness. This GMT is available
throughout the year. Call Sandy Jones at
542-2766, Ext. 115 to schedule a class.
The following classes and events are
planned in April:
April 2, 9 a.m. - The CDC is holding a
walk rally with the children. The theme
of the walk is "Hands are Not for Hitting."
Anyone interested in walking can call 542-
5529.
April 5, 9-11:30 a.m. - What a Difference
a Dad Makes
April 17, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. -
Discipline that Builds Cooperation (Brown
bag lunch)
April 21, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - The Youth

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4 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 29, 2007

Special motorcycle class offered to teens

B% Kaylee LaRocque .

Special basic rider course for teen
motorcyclists was held last week
to coincide with the spring break
school vacation.
This class is required by the State of
Florida for anyone operating a motorcycle
under the age of 21 before they can get a
motorcycle license. All active duty mem-
bers must also take either a Naval Safety
Center approved basic or experienced rider
course and obtain a Motorcycle Safety
Foundation card whether they ride on or
off base.
"Some of the students here today
trailered in their bikes and others had
their dads bring them in. We are teach-
ing them the basic course to give them a
little experience in riding motorcycles,"
said Glenn Picklesimer, traffic and recre-
ational safety specialist, BMT Designers
and Planners.
"Since they are new to riding, they have
less bad habits that we have to break. It's
like; a fresh slate, we start from the begin-
ning."
After successfully completing the course
and obtaining an MSF card, the rider can
be issued a base decal. It also waives the
riding portion required by the State of
Florida, to get a motorcycle endorsement.
For Florida residents under 21 years of
age; Florida statutes prohibit issuances of
a motorcycle learner's permit.
Motorcyclists must first successfully com-
plete the basic rider course, and then they
can: obtain a motorcycle endorsement on
their Florida license. All to often, dealer-

I

.4

SIPhotos by Kaylee LaRocque
Glenn Picklesimer, traffic and recreational safety specialist for BMT Designers and Planners,
gives some last-minute instructions to a group of motorcycle riders practicing their skills on
the range.
ships fail to mention this information to time. Students are required to provide
junior Sailors. "It's kind of a catch-22, but their own motorcycle and are given numer-
what makes it worse is dealers aren't good ous skills and scenarios to practice on the
about telling people these requirements," range.
stated Picklesimer. "This is really a great course. I'm just
Free motorcycle safety classes are offered learning how to ride. These practice
on regular basis. All active duty, family maneuvers really take a lot of skill so
members, retirees and DoD personnel are that's why I'm here today, to learn the
eligible to go through the three-day novice skills I need to get on the road. I'm a lit-
course or a shortened curriculum which is tle nervous, but it's fun," said 16-year-old
a day and a half-long course provided to John Harrington.
those with some riding experience. "I'm here today because I have to take
Classes consist of classroom and range this class to get my motorcycle license.

John Knaak, 17, practices his braking skills
during the basic rider course offered during
spring break last week.
I already have a car, so I wanted to try
something else. I really like the course.
We've learned how to shift better, steer-
ing and maneuvering techniques and how
to brake," added 17-year-old John Knaak,
who has been riding for about a month.
To sign up for a motorcycle safety class
or to become a volunteer instructor, call
the NAS Jax Safety Office at 542-3082.

States fall short in

childcare and learning

From the National Association of Child
Care Resource and Referral Agencies
Anew state report card released
recently reveals that states fall
far short of meeting basic require-
ments needed to protect the health and
sAfety of children in child care, and to
promote their school readiness. !
'Out of 150 possible points, the aver-
age state score was only 70 points.
The report card ranks every state
(including the District of Columbia) on
15 basic criteria related to their current
childcare center standards and over-
sight: It also ranks the Department of
Defense (DoD), which has its own child-
care system. Compiled by the National
Association of Child Care Resource &
Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and
released during its annual National
Policy Symposium, NACCRRA's ranking
of state childcare center standards and
oversight points toward an urgent need
in every state to improve standards and
oversight of childcare centers.
Only two states (Illinois and Nevada)
require a full background check of child-
care staff. Only eight states (plus the
DoD) address all 10 basic health and
safety benchmarks, such as fire drills,
administration of medication, preven-
tion of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,
diapering and hand-washing and safe
playground surfaces.
Four states either allow or do not
specifically prohibit corporal punish-
ment. Only three states (plus the DoD)
conduct quarterly inspections of child-
care centers; eight do not even con-.
duct inspections annually. And, 21
states have no minimum educational

QDoND

requirement for childcare teachers.
States were scored based on a point sys-
tem of 100 points for childcare standards
and 50 for oversight, for a total overall
possible score of 150 points.
The DoD received the highest
score (117 points). The next high-
est score, only 90 points, was received
by Illinois and New York. Idaho
scored the lowest, receiving 15 points.
Aside from the DoD, the states that
ranked within the top 10 best overall-
scoring from 90 to 82 points respective-
ly-are Illinois, New York,. Maryland,
Washington, Oklahoma, Michigan, North
Dakota, Tennessee, Minnesota and
Vermont. The weakest 10 overall-scor-
ing from. 15 to 58 points respectively-are
Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, Kentucky,
California, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah,
Maine and New Hampshire.
The DoD childcare system stands alone
as a model for the states, not only rank-
ing first, but also standing as the only
entity scoring within the top 10 for both
standards and oversight.
"The results of this report card should
be a wake-up call to policy-makers,"
says Linda Smith, executive director of
NACCRRA. "State childcare standards
and .oversight in this nation are not pro-
tecting our children and are not pre-
paring them for success in school. With
the well-being of nearly 12 million chil-
dren under age 5 at stake, states need
to make sure that children are safe and
learning in childcare.
In addition, the federal government
needs to hold the states more account-
able for the nearly $11 billion in fed-

Navy takes legal steps to

safeguard classified information

From Navy Office
of Information
n order to prevent-dis-
closure of certain clas-
sified and sensitive
national security informa-
tion, the Department of the
Navy announced on March
20 that they have assert-
ed the state secrets privi-
lege in Natural Resources
Defense Council, Inc., et.
al v. Donald C. Winter,
Secretary of the Navy.
The plaintiffs made dis-
covery requests for infor-
mation identifying by lati-
tude, longitude, time and
date, duration, and name of
exercise (if any) every non-
combat use of mid-frequen-
cy active sonar by the Navy
anywhere in the world.
The Navy decided that

20 o FF ANY TWO ITEMS*
,. 1 ' 'COUPON APPLIES TO NON SALE ITEMS. ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER PER
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S " ' ' 'COUPON MUST BE SURRENDERED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. No copies please.
For the Round Robin nearest you o m
, visit www.Round-Robin.come

range rark at Kingsley Ave.
264-6511

complying with the plain-
tiffs' discovery requests in
this case would require the
disclosure of classified and
sensitive national securi-
ty information that could
cause exceptionally grave
damage to our country's
security.
Asserting this privilege
does not change the Navy's
focus on long-term compli-
,ance with environmental
laws nor the Navy's com-
mitment to, studying the
relationship between sonar
and marine mammals.
The Navy will also con-
tinue to employ stringent
mitigation measures to pro-
tect marine mammals dur-
ing all sonar activities.
The state secrets privilege
is well-established in fed-
eral law. It has been recog-
nized by .U.S. courts as far

back as the 19th century,
and allows the Executive
Branch to safeguard vital
information regarding the
nation's security or diplo-
matic relations.
This privilege has been
applied numerous times
in the past to protect our
nation's secrets from dis-
closure, and to require dis-
missal of cases when other
litigation mechanisms
would be inadequate.
It is an absolute privilege
that renders the informa-
tion unavailable in litiga-
tion.
For additional informa-
tion, contact the Navy
Office of Information at
(703) 697-5342 or visit the
Navy's Web site concerning
sonar and marine mammals
at http://www.whalesandso-
nar.navy.mil.

As Navy Region Southeast begins the exciting
process of using Lean Six Sigma to better enable
warfighter readiness for the fleet, an important
term to understand is DMAIIC.
DMAIIC is a disciplined process that allows Lean Six
Sigma practitioners to address, implement and sustain
permanent improvements in an organization's processes
and practices.
The DMAIIC steps are: Define, Measure, Analyze,
Improve, Implement and Control.
Define. Find a process in need of improvement. To
define the project, initiate action to address an identified
problem through a team problem-solving process. Select
an appropriate scope for the project and define how the
process can be improved to increase productivity. Finally,
as an important part of the define step, determine if there
are any easy, quick measures that can be implemented
immediately. The focus should be on significant improve-
ments.
Measure. Once the process has been defined, gather
data about process performance. Selection of the right
data to be collected is critical; the focus must remain on
data that is critical to the quality of the process. Ensure

that the people who own the process are part of the team;
for instance, if the process to be improved is the selection
of ombudsmen, identify ombudsmen and get their input.
Analyze. What does the data indicate is the cause
of the problem? What changes must be made? These
are questions that will shape the process analysis. The
analysis step addresses the root causes of the process to be

improved, so that the appropriate changes may be made to
improve the entire process.
Improve. Now that the problem is identified, the next
step is to identify the specific actions that will elimi-
nate unnecessary steps and defects in the process. The
Improve phase results in specific recommendations for
revising the process chosen for study and provides suffi-
cient detail to allow others not familiar with the process to
follow the revised process.
Implement. Once this step has been reached, take
appropriate actions based on the previous four steps. Now
is the time to execute the selected solution! And go beyond
implementing to evaluate that measurable improvement
has taken place.
Control. The process is not complete with implementa-
tion. To ensure that the sea change of Lean Six Sigma is
not merely transitory, sustain the improvements and con-
tinually measure the improved process.
DMAIIC is an important tool of Lean Six Sigma that
can greatly affect the future productivity of any organiza-
tion. It is detailed extensively in Lean Six Sigma litera-
ture such as Sailing through Lean Six Sigma by Brassard
& Ritter, LLC. For more information on Lean Six Sigma,
you can sign up to receive email newsletters at this link:
http://www.isixsigma.com/newsletter/.

Career Management Symposium is today

From Staff
The Center for Career Development
will be on board NAS Jacksonville
today to give career management to
junior Sailors and officers and training to
command retention teams.
This symposium will provide Sailors
and their families with support to make
informed, unemotional career decisions
and provides commands with resources
and information to assist their retention
efforts.
The following is a schedule of all the
briefs planned for today:
8 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Detailing Brief
Enlisted detailers available: ADC, AEC,
MAC, YNC, HMC
Location: - Building 1, Command Career
Counselor's (CCC) Office
8-9:30 a.m. - Chief Petty Officer
Leadership MPT&E Brief
E7 and above
Location: Base Theater
8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Enlisted Special
Warfare Brief
All interested enlisted personnel
Location: Building 1 CCC conference
room
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Enlisted Special
Warfare Support Brief
All interested enlisted personnel

Tax season is nearing its end. If
you've been procrastinating, come
to the NAS Jacksonville Tax Center
to have your taxes done.
NAS Jacksonville operates a tax cen-
ter to provide free tax preparation ser-
vices through a program called Voluntary
Income Tax Assistance (VITA). This pro-
gram saves Sailors hundreds of thousands
of dollars they might otherwise pay to get
their taxes done, and obtains millions of
dollars in tax refunds for Sailors.
VITA is the only free tax preparation
service on base. If it does not say VITA it is
not free. Private tax preparers charge $50-
$100 or more per return and often pres-
sure Sailors to pay high additional rates
to get their refunds more quickly. VITA is
run entirely by volunteers. These volun-
teers are certified by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) and the center will E-file
returns, ensuring fast refunds.
Who is eligible for free tax preparation
through VITA?
* active-duty service members and their
dependents.
* retirees and their dependents.
* reservists on active duty for more than
30 days.

* reservists within 30 days of demobili-
zation.
* reservists involved in pre-mobilization.
What to bring to the tax center:
* 2006 W-2's and 1099's
* copies of social security cards
* taxpayers) military ID cards
* and any other tax records that might
be relevant, including copies of 2005 tax
returns if available
Deploying spouses:
Couples wishing to file joint returns
should come to the tax center together. If
a spouse is unavailable, the spouse prepar-
ing the return will need to bring an IRS
Power of Attorney (Form 2848 available at
www.irs.gov) A general power of attorney
from the base legal office will not suffice.
Where and when:
The center is located at Building 13 at
the main gate, next to the Navy-Marine
Corps Relief Society office.
The VITA Tax Center is open Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays - by appoint-
ment only. On April 14, the center will be
open for appointments only until 2 p.m. On
April 16-17, the center will be open from 8
a.m. to 7 p.m. for walk-ins only.
For more information, call 542-8038.

Idol

watch
MU3 Phil Stacey
assigned to Navy Band
Southeast, is still in the
American Idol com-
petition surviving last
week's British inva-
sion singing "Tobacco
Road."
Stay tuned and cast
your vote!

File photo

I

SENIOR CITIZEN'S DAY

1.$100

association O FF
SM THURSDAY ONLY
www.frvla.org i Not valid with any other discounts.
wwwfrta^rg

HM2 Jerry Horton and the rest of the Director for Surgical S
the tug-of-war competition.

HOSPITAL'S

CMC

CHALLENGE

BRINGS

COMMAND

TOGETHER

By Loren Barnes
NI I Jad ksonville Pub'hli( Affairs
The Naval Hospital Jacksonville Command Master
Chief (CMC) ('hC.il-iige took place March 12-16
with a series of 10 competitive events.
This popular event pits hospital directorate teams
:igain-t each other in friendly competition. It is designed
to build staff esprit d'corps and has proven a perennial hit.
"The team spirit that the CMC Challenge fosters builds
on and strengthens the team spirit that each member
of this command exemplify day in and day out in meet-
ing our challenging and
critical mission," said
Command Master Chief
* CMDCM(AW) Dennis
Green.
The Director for Admin-
istration (DFA) team took
home the CMC Cup at the - -
close of the Challenge.
"This is a a iwIt way to
bring the entire hospit ajl ETC kemiini-i Lee holds HN
staff together while hv,. Wesley Williams' feet as he
ing some well-deservod cranks out push-ups in sit-up/
fun. As far as his team's pull-up/push-up event.
win." said Director for
Administration (DFA) Cmdr. Darin Roiz.-r-
"Our group rose to the top and put out their normal
superb performance."
DFA : in.-l hi with a score of ,'. points. .The second-

I
I.
* I.
'i-f

AW) Dennis Green is hoisted onto the shoulders of jubilant hospital staff participants at the close of the CMC Challenge March 16.

Services team show some grit in

SK2 Antoine Nibblet carries the Director for Administration (DFA) banner proudly. The DFA
team came out on top overall with 525 points. The second-place team, Director of Branch
Health Clinics, finished with 415 points.
L[ w[ YFVIhTW-IV

place team, the Director, Branch Health Clinics (DBHC),
finished with 415 points.
,-Broken down by the Challenges' 10 events, the winners
were:
- Chess Tournament - The DFA team. Playing in three-
member teams, DFA beat 18 other competitors from the
hospital's other directorates.
Flag Competition - The Director, Medical Services
(DMS) team won the competition with a design by HM2
Kamesha Albert-
Saunders. . "
5K Run - HM2
Encarnation Nunez
who won for the
Director, Branch
Health Clinics a
(DBHC) team with a
finish time of 18:43. .'
Izzy Dizzy Relay
- The DFA team - .
took won this crazy
competition in which Any miscalculation can result in disas-
teams of four con- ter as Capt. Denise Graham learns
eostants first spin in the water balloon toss. Lt. Cmdr.
Around with their Bradley Buchanan seems to think he
forehead pressed to has it down though. Or does he?
the top of a bat and
then dizzily try to complete a relay run.
Volleyball Tournament - The DBHC took home the hon-
ors in this event.
S-Balloon Toss - The Director, Surgical Services (DSS)
amdr. Craig Shepps and HMCM Louis Ferrarro, repre-
ntinm , the DSS, team soaked the field of competitors
demonstrating the superb finger skills that make a Navy
surgeon.
Push-ups/Sit-ups/Pull-up relay - This challenging series
of exercises was won by a team of three representing the
Director, Clinical Support Services (DCSS).
-Dodgeball Tournament -- Slamming their opponents, the
(DFA) team won this tournament as well.
'I'Tug-O-War - Directorates fielded teams of six (three
minale/three female) in this test of pure brawn. Pound for
opbund the DBHC came out on top in this event.
%I

Some time back I remember
reading about volunteerism
in America. I remember read-
ing about people that have gone the
extra mile to help others. These
were people that were just trying to
make the world a kinder and gentler
place.
For instance, there was a man
in New York City who gathered,
repaired and handed out winter
gloves to homeless people in the city.
There was another in Virginia who
collected farmers' discarded potatoes
and delivered them to food kitchens
for the poor.
Some were recognized for their tire-
less and selfless efforts. Most were
not. There was no financial pay-off.
There were no fancy banquets in their.
honor attended by politicians and
other dignitaries. These were people
that simply stuck their necks out and
went the second mile. They went
beyond the boundaries of what was
expected from them.
Many still do. They may appear
radical and some may seem a little
eccentric in their focused zeal towards
volunteerism. For them going the
second mile is s
cond nature.
When we examine volunteerism and
the potential for liberating the human
spirit we will discover that the volun-
teer is as much blessed as the recipi-
ent of his/her service. Indeed, the old
adage becomes self evident in volun-
teerism: "It is more blessed to give
than to receive."

_____m low
w--------- - - - . -- ---.
5-

Chaplain (Lt.) Joe Molina

Or how about this old expression of
wisdom, "If some one forces you to go
one mile, go with him two miles."
Here is where we need to pay atten-
tion. In this saying we find the over
riding ethic for helping those in need.
I'll even go as far as to say that going
the second mile is the ultimate mea-
surement of "love" in action.
The historical origin of this saying
is interesting. This aphorism origi-
nated during the Roman occupation
of Palestine in the first century A.D.
At the time the common citizenry of
Palestine could be forced into the ser-
vice of the Romans.
They could be compelled to supply
food, lodging and even carry a sol-
dier's gear while on a march. It could
be a humiliating experience. The

I

CHILDCARE: States fall short on care and education

From Page 4

eral funds that they use for
childcare."
Because 90 percent of a
child's brain develops by
age 5, the- quality of care
a child receives during his
or her early years can have
a lifelong effect. With chil-
dren of working mothers
spending an average of 36
hours each week in some
type of childcare setting,
the quality of care is para-
mount.
The Child Care and
Development Block Grant
(CCDBG) is the primary
federal funding source for
childcare in the United
States. Under the block
grant, minimum health
and safety requirements for
states are extremely broad.
The result, as this report
card reveals, is that most
state standards are weak in
many basic areas.

To improve the qual-
ity of childcare, NACCRRA
is calling on Congress to
strengthen CCDBG to bet-
ter ensure that children are
safe and learning while in
childcare.
Included in NACCRRA's
recommendations to
Congress are requirements
for background checks with
fingerprint checks for all
paid childcare workers,
basic training of workers
Before caring for children
and unannounced quar-
terly inspections to ensure
compliance with state stan-
dards.
In addition, NACCRRA
calls on states to strengthen
their standards by address-
ing such issues as reducing
staff-to-child ratios, requir-
ing more extensive train-
ing and education of the
workforce, and requiring
that childcare centers meet
10 basic health and safety

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standards and allow open
access to parents.
According to a nation-
al poll conducted by
NACCRRA, the overwhelm-
ing majority of parents
logically assume that stan-
dards are in place in child-
care programs to ensure
that their children are safe
and learning. Parents can
help make such require-
ments a reality by letting
their governors know that
the current quality of child-
care is not acceptable and
that states can and must do
better.
Parents can also help
ensure that their childcare
program is high-quality by
visiting NACCRRA's Web
site, www.naccrra.org.
Here, parents can download
informational resources
such as Is This the Right-
Place for My Child?, a book-
let that helps them assess

programs. Parents can also
contact their local child-
care resource and referral
agency, which they can find
online at www.childcarea-
ware.org, for additional
resources.
The information used
to score each state in
NACCRRA's report card
was 'obtained from the
recent 2005 Child Care
Licensing Study: Final
Report, developed by the
National Association for
Regulatory Administration
and the National Child Care
Information and Technical
Assistance Center (NCCIC),
as well as NCCIC's data-
base, on childcare systems
and regulations.
To download the state
report card-We Can
Do Better: NACCRRA's
Ranking .of State Child
Care Center Standards and
Oversight-visit www.nac-

command to carry a soldier's pack
for one Roman mile (1,000 paces) was
legally binding. The adage says: go
the one-mile (compulsory) but then
volunteer to go a second mile. Why?
The second mile was an opportunity
to make a friend and disarm your
opponent. It's good, practical advice.
Going the extra mile takes us
beyond the average and as we volun-
teer to help others it propels us to a
new and higher level of living. When
we volunteer in community programs
it can overcome our drudgery. We'll
become self-starters and we will see
our lives change as well as the life of
others.
When we become volunteers in our
communities we'll rise above our limi-
tations. When going the second mile
becomes second nature in us. it will
contribute to our personal growth and
the progress of others.
It is interesting, but volunteerism
tends to overthrow wrongs that' may
have been done to us. It will focus on
and bring out what is true and right
in us (individually). It will help us to
put the past behind. We'll rise above
any past resentment because we're
focusing on the importance of doing
good to benefit others. Volunteerism
has the power of vindication.
Think about it. Our lives are truly
blessed in so many ways. We possess
good health, a steady income, a stan-
dard of living and time to enjoy it. Be
a volunteer and go the second mile!

Sprint gives you the
Power to Save 15% off your
monthly wireless bill.
PLUS:
* Get your activation fee waived
(up to a $36 value)
* And receive ONE FREE MONTH*
on your primary line of service
Requires new activation and a 2-year subscriber agreement.

Net avail a ble In all markets or reth,11 locations. Offer not available oil add-a-phone activations, Offer only
ava, table to Active members of the US Military, Reservists, Retired Military and their dependents. Current
US Military ID or dependent ID roqUired at time of purchase. Government Employee Discount: Advertised
Discount only available for enri of Government agencies subject to employee discount pricing with
Sprint. Farrilly/Frionds must be livoiced on the same account as eligible employee. Waived activation fee
and one month free credit requir,, activation of a new primary planby June 30, 2007. Offer only for
individual liable lines with apprmed credit and 2-Year agreement. Add a phone plans are subject to credit
approval. Nationwide Sprint PCS letwork covers 250 million people. Nextel nationwide network reaches
ever 1(il million people. Coverage( not available everywhere, Offer ends 6130107. Discount and service credit
only apply to monthly charges; to es and surcharges still apply. Up to S200 early termination fee applies to
each line. May not be combinable �Ylth any other offers. (9) 2007 Sprint Ndxtei. All rights reserved. Sprint, the
going forward" logo, file NEXTELmlme and logo, and other trademarks are trademarks of Sprint Nextel.
All other marks are.property of thtr respective owners. R1698 I

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<

For more information. please call 542-3051/3052

Chapel offers PREP class:
From the NAS lax Chapel
T he base chapel is offering a marriage enrichment..
workshop called the Prevention Relationship -
Enhancement Program (PREP) April 23-24. The-. ' .
class will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and,..
Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
PREP is designed to teach couples communication skills,
and ground rules for handling conflict and promoting inti-,,
macy. It is a great tool for every marriage and qualifies as.
a pre-marriage training requirement.
All active duty members, Department of Defense civil--
ian employees, retirees and their spouses or fianc6es are -
welcome to attend. The workshop and materials are free.
A complimentary continental breakfast and lunch will be..
provided on both days.
For more information and to register, call 542-, ,
3051/3052.

CREDO retreats offered:

From Staff

T he Spiritual Fitness Division Southeast offers a;
variety of spiritual retreats for anyone holding a, ,,
Department of Defense ID card who is over the, .
age of 18. All transportation, programming, lodging and.......
meals are free. Retreats are held at the Sea Retreat_....
Center in St. Simons Island, Ga. Registration is on a first.......
come, first serve basis by calling 270-6958. The following..
retreats are coming up:
Spiritual and Personal Growth Challenges - May 4-6,,-
May 17-20
This program helps people address problems and dis-,,
cover their personal identity.
Marriage Enrichment -May 4-6
Married couples desiring to take their marriage to the.......
next level or simply enjoy being with one another may -
participate in a 48-hour retreat. Participants must be--
married. Couples must provide their own transportation. -
Spiritual Growth Retreat - Oct. 7
This is a time to devote yourself fully to assessing where
you are spiritually. A time to nurture yourself and gain a :-,.
vision of where you want to go. It's also a time to under-
stand the spiritual journey of others and incorporate that'. -
into your own growth and understanding. '

L ast week, FLTCM(SS/SW) R.D.
West addressed the recently
announced changes to the Navy's
focus on the deployability and employabil-
ity of our units. I would like to echo his
comments and further explain how these
changes will affect you and
your families.
First, it's important to under-
starid the history that led .to
these changes and why these
decisions were made. The
original PERSTEMPO instruc-
tion was written in 1985 with-
in the context of the Cold War
requirements. Prior to the
instruction, nine month at sea
and 'multiple deployments dur- FLTCM(
ing an at-sea tours were com- Jackie
mon. The 1985 PERSTEMPO instruction
set the framework for more than a decade
of steady six-month deployments and a
predictable rotation policy.
During the 1990's, the increased demand
by combatant commanders for Navy capa-
bilities made it more difficult to maintain
predictable deployment cycles.
After Sept. 11, 2001, those demands
increased even more and sticking with a
static six-month deployment model from
20 years ago no longer made sense. As an
example, in 2005 the Navy held to past
policy and ended up executing a 26 percent
increase in presence to meet the needs of
combatant commanders. These. changes
were short notice and created instability in
Sailors lives.
Now, more than ever, the nation, needs
the capabilities that you have been trained
to carry out and each day we spend train-
ing at sea is important. The training con-
ducted during each of the phases of the
employment cycle allow us to advance into
the next phase and ultimately provide a
combat capable unit ready for future mis-
sions. There may be times when we are
called on to deploy on short notice dur-
ing that window of availability. But that
will only be when combatant commanders

s
!

require the unique capabilities that we
bring to a mission, which could include
missions in support of our own citizens, at
home
You may have heard that the Navy will
do more seven-month deploy-
ments. This is true, but only
when it is necessary for com-
mands with a single deploy-
ment within an employment
cycle. If multiple deployments
are required within an employ-
ment cycle, the maximum
planned length limit will be six
months. In either case, deploy-
ments will not be routinely
W/AW) scheduled for longer than six
)iRosa months. 'I would ask you to
remember that there are other services,
as well as our Sailors'serving individual
augmentee missions, who deploy for a year
at a time.
The potential for increased time at sea
is to be balanced with more time at home."
In a recent message (NavAdmin 051/07),
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike
Mullen, wrote, "while we increased the
time available for employment in support
of the nation's combatant commanders, I
want our Sailors to understand that we
have carefully considered the potential
for personnel impacts. The new plan will
better account for deployed time and pre-
serves the traditional 50 percent time in
homeport,
We are a nation at war and this more
flexible schedule and responsive surge
capability is vital to the nation and our
Navy. Shipmates, we live in an unpredict-
able world and your service is valued, as
are the sacrifices of your families while you
are away. Our nation depends upon young
men and women who are willing to volun-
teer to serve their country.
If you have any questions on the Navy's
new operational focus, don't hesitate to
talk to your chiefs, command master chief
or others in your command's leadership.

JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 29, 2007 9

A realistic look

.Photo by MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck
Personnel from Commander, Sea Control Wing Atlantic lift a 500-pound inert bomb onto
the S-3B Viking static display in Heritage Park March 20. A total of four bombs were
added to increase the display's aesthetic appeal.

High-year tenure clarification

From Staff
(0~ ur current high-year tenure
(HYT) policies enable the career
progression of Sailors. They are
not intended to force deckplate leaders
out of the Navy, but rather to allow the
growth of those we have been developing
as our reliefs," said MCPON(SW/FMF)
Joe Campa, Jr. recently.
The current HYT limiting gates are:
E5 -12 Years
E6 -20 Years
E7 -24 Years
E8 -26 Years
E9 -30 Years
All enlisted HYT requests are reviewed
and endorsed by the rating detailer and
forwarded to ECMs for final approval. The
master chief petty officer of the Navy will
not review any command master chief HYT
requests without fleet or force master chief
input. Command master chiefs requesting
HYT waivers to support transfer to high-
impact/arduous sea tours are looked at
closely.
Although the Navy has a 40-year pay
scale, there are no plans to increase the

HYT limiting gates for enlisted personnel.
All master chief petty officer selection
numbers are determined by our current
number of master chief petty officers on
board on June 30. The end strength is
mandated by Congress and the Navy must
be at or below the authorized end strength
on Sept. 30 (end of fiscal year).

---

power of
a wish,,

SA CFC prticipant.
Provided as a public service.

Military down-playing long runs

Adopting
more diverse
fitness programs
By Donna Miles
Ameflcan Forces Press Service
I a little bit of running
is good for keeping
ivarfighters in top form,
thefL a lot of running is bet-
ter,: right? "Wrong!" say
officials at the Army Center
for fHealth Promotion and
Preventive Medicine.
The Army, Navy, Marine
Corps and Air Force have
come to recognize that as
beneficial as running can
be 1o overall fitness, health
and military readiness,
too:much of a good thing
causes injuries, that leave
troops less fit, less healthy
and less ready, Army Lt.
Col. Steve Bullock, the
center's health promotion
policy program manage.',
told American Forces Press
Sery ice.

As a result, the services
are tailoring their physical
training regimes to reduce
the emphasis on "pound-
ing the pavement." Instead,
they're replacing regular
long-distance runs with
other forms of exercise, he
said.
The goal is to reduce
overuse injuries that trans-
late military-wide to more

than 8 million days of lim-
ited duty a year, said Keith
Hauret, an epidemiologist
for the Army's injury pre-
vention program. Fractures,
sprains, strains and other
musculoskeletal conditions,
many resulting from physi-
cal training, take an even
greater toll on the force in
See FITNESS, Page 16

A Microsoft Technology

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Introducing New 16 Week

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Monday

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30 minute presentations

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SFri. - Apr. 27, 2007 8:00 & 10:00
- Sat. - Apr. 28, 2007 8:00 & 10:00
Sun. - Apr. 29, 2007 8:00
Though LaVelle is reilthu61y new to the comedy scene, he's already made a
slash in the Indust,-) by headlinina LatH japooza. The longest running urban
cominedy festnl LaLeli, has also made the lump to television with comedic
appearances on ' Motown' L,,' "ShoLnwtme at the Alpollo , BET s ComIcViewu
and Russell Si-nmons Del Comody JJm Crawlord has appeared on
The Jamie Fo10 Shosw ' and has appeared in the films Baby s Afama Drama
Beverlyhood and Ghetto South Problem

ealing with the
many work and
school scheduling
conflicts during the school
year can be frustrating .Mattie Reaves, 6, (left), Devon lipton, 7, (middle) and Peyton
for parents. This year, Sanders, 6, enjoy a morning game of ""Connect Four". Board
Jacksonville residents games are just a small part of the endless activities that t-bg
have had to find daytime I Youth Activities Center has available for children to utilize
arrangements for their while they are visiting.
children due to an increase
in planning days, weather
days and now the upcom-
ing extended summer.
NAS Jax Morale, Welfare -E
and Recreation Department Photos by.MC1I(AW/SW) Heather Ewton
Youth Activities Center Natalia Ewton, 6, and Dane Larocque, 6, choose their bowling balls as they patiently wait -.
(YAC) offers an extensive their turn to hit the lanes at NAS Jax Freedom Lanes March 22.
line of services to military...,..
members that rival any
other arrangement parents eA
can come up with. Spring X' ,
break childcare woes were
once again put to rest for
the parents of those who
attended the annual Spring Mia McNair, 9, splashes around during the trip to the indoor
Break Camp. pool.
The YAC held provided(Blw
The YAC held provided . (Below) Tajeem Johnson, 7, climbs into the activities basket
enthusiasticty childcare for 45, and chooses his next. game to play.
enthusiastic children who .-
needed to be looked after Photo by Diana Soto * . -;-,, - i
during the day. The chil- Spencer Carter and Roudy7 -J
dren participated in sever- Leonard try their luck at a Bahati Chester, 7, (front), N- _,-.
al exciting activities that ganie while visiting a local Briana Flournoy, 9, andV1
inlu e tips atov the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant Breyane Benjamin, 7, (back), '
Jaxincludedootripst the NASpool, during Spring Break Camp. focus on a savvy fashion
Jax idoorswiming oolgame at the computer area of
Chuck E. Cheese's restau- 23 and registration day the YouthActivities Center. a f
rant and NAS Jax Freedom is April 28 from 9 a.m. to
Lanes Bowling Alley. Arts noon. (Right) Peyton Sanders, 6,
and crafts were big items For more information on tosses a frisbee to a friend.
on the children's to-do list the YAC, contact the cen-
and the center is designed ter's staff at 778-9772. See more photos, Page 11 -. r
around the belief that chil- "
dren should exercise their
imagination.
Children enjoyed playing
make-believe in the dress-
up area and others relaxed
in the music and computer
area.
Lunch was served out-
side in the pavilion daily
and the kids were able to
enjoy the beautiful weather
that came along with spring We Salute Our Military Heros!-ity Automotive Grou
break..Ciity Mitsubishi on Atlantic
reak.10585 Atlantic Blvd.
"Here at YAC, we keep :_8..a-711B
the children busy and
entertained. It is a very,10857 Philips Highway
organized environment that"260-9222
keeps the kids focused on City Mil, bishi of Orange Park
what they are doing and not OI7505 Blanding BlId
focused on where mom or 77.80
dad are," commented YAC CiO-Isuzu on Atlantic
Teen Coordinator Amanda of Orange Park 9o8sanc 1lvd
Christmas.
Cit� Suzuki on Atlantic
"We always see children 10585 A tlantic Blvd.
who maay seem uneasy at "7245 Blanding Blvd * 1-800-558-6409� '" "
who may seem uneasy at 9871
first, but they are begging
to stay and to keep coming
back after one day of visit- .
ing the center."
The atmosphere of the
YAC is fun for the children
and every avenue of inter-
est is addressed by the
center's staff. Everyone has
something to do there and
the kids are never bored.
"I love coming here! I
get to play with my friend,
Brooke, who I met in sum-
mer camp," stated Treyvon ..
Benjamin, 10. "There's no
homework here and a ton of
stuff to do!" Atlantic Infiniti
All of the children had
smiles from ear to ear and 10980 Atlantic Blvd.
talked animatedly about 888-642-0200
being at the center for the www.atlanticinfibiti.com a=
week of spring break. ..
"I have no trouble keep-
ing busy. I play basketball, W EL
video games and they even EA
have computers we can -

use," added James Spates.
"When my mom wakes me
"When my mom wakes me I N F I NA I .! MILITARY EXCELLENCE.
up in the morning, I am
happy to hop out, of bed
because I know that I get
to go to the YAC and I am
ready to go ahead and start "Fair Winds & Following Seas"
my day." to All Who have Served on the Big John
The activities that the ON%
center has to offer is a
pretty neat feature when HONDA
it comes to entrusting the M IN
personal growth of your V on Atlantic
child to someone else's care. t*1 -A
However, the staff in itself Thank You For Bein Part Of Our CommunIty
is pretty amazing. WE SALUTE YOU 11003 Atlantic Blvd.
Each staff member is cer- 866-672-0000
tified and has gone through JACKSONVILLE MARINVE DEALERS ASSOCIATIONI www.cogginhondajacksonville.co
rigorous and thorough back-
ground checks.

JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 29, 2007 11

team up and
cture out of

: Natalia Ewton, 6, takes advantage of some quiet time to read a book in the designated reading area equipped with bean bags
N r and foot rests.
SDane Larocque, 6, throws a ball down the lane in hopes of a Photos by
strike while the Youth Activities Center group visited NAS Jax MCI (AW/SW) Heather Ewton
Freedom Lanes March 22.

NMCRS

S- d toffersd WeBudget a

f or Babties co -
-T Gvclasses a

he Navy Marine
Corp Relieon of Society
(NMCRS) at NAS
9201 Atlantic.BlvdsJax offers Budget for
866-568-500 I Babies classes every first
each month. These compre-
thensive classes are avail-
onAtancable to all military person-
nel and their family memu-
bers. Participation of both
SOparents is encouraged.
Joe Pinnell, NMCRS vol-
eunteer and financial plan-s
H" Daner ao cqe,6 a bner helps the expecting par-
tMOTORu ARS INC I. ents prepare a budget for
bbfromr birth through col-
Slege. He offers money sav-
ning tips for buying baby's
first items such as furni-
Sture, car seats, carrlie rs and
10231.cappstrollfers. Retirement plan-
86-1 60 00 _-.. Babies clacussed.
At thde conclusion ofthe
class each family is given
"baby's first sea bag", val-

ONA2 LANTIA1/OFF p pointmsis gentcontarins

L... itary ID cards may
Is Service After The Sale" NIMNICHT PONTIAC be made on the Web
11503frT a PHINICTPO STORE HOURS: site to avoid the wait asso-
lantic Blvd. 11503 PHILIPS HWY. 9A-9P M-SAT & 12P-7P SUN ciated with walk-in service.
JACKSONVILLE TWO MILES SOUTH OF AVENUES MALL Appointments can be made
64-4462 674-01 70 WWW.NIMNICHTGMC.COM in advance by civilians,
retirees and active duty
members for all types of ID
I St. Mary's Antique Mall, Inc. cards. Appointments can
a 921 Osborne Street, St. Marys GA 31548 be made from 9 a.m. - 3
T r e Phone: 912-576-2777 4 p.m. daily. Walk-in cus-
SOF T rI ar Come and check out St. Marys Antique Mall! homers will continue to be
We have a large selection ofAntique, Vintage and served on a first come, first
ies Shipped High Quality Reproduction Furniture as well as many collectibles. served basis; however, cus-
Shie Now accepting Consignment Items! Rental Spaces are Available! tomers with appointments
S*(no HMOs please) will have priority.
(no HMOspease) We are located by the railroad tracks as you go into downtown St. Marys The Web site can be
) ay! across from the old mill. (Exit 3 off Interstate 95) accessed via the NAS Jax
eliable Service Store Hours Web site, www.nasjax.navy.
-9:00 am - 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday mil. Please choose PSD
*I - ''t 9:00 am - 7:00 p.m. Saturday Jacksonville for all family
V' 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday member ID card appoint-
S5.. ments, not Pass & ID.

12 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILILE, Thursday, March 29, 2007

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JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 29, 2007 13

familyy Advocacy Program

aelps Navy and Marine Corps

families deal with violence

From LifeLines
n a perfect world run solely by love
and happiness, spouses don't fight and
children don't get abused, but, sadly,
thousands of spouses and children are
neglected and abused emotionally, phys-
ically, and sexually. Navy and Marine
Corps families who face abuse or fear its
onset, can work with the Family Advocacy
Program (FAP) for guidance and solu-
tions.
FAP was created to protect military
families from violence and abuse, to pro-
vide safety for victims, to hold offenders
accountable for their actions through dis-
ciplinary action, administrative action, or
rehabilitation and to prevent similar situa-
tions from happening in the future.
FAP Helps Families in Need
FAP works as an administrative agency
for spouse abuse and child abuse. FAP also
evaluates all referrals and calls by alleged
victims, 911 operators, the military police,
the hospital and the command. Other on-
base out-of-home settings such as childcare
centers, schools, and recreation programs
must also report alleged child abuse to
FAP. FAP, in turn, is obligated to report
alleged or actual abuse to Child Protective
Services.
Additionally, FAP coordinates the Case
Review Committee (CRC), a multi-disci-
plinary team, to -determine the level of
violence, suggest treatment and, above all,
stay in close communication with the com-
mand.
The treatments suggested by FAP can
be with civilian agencies, the hospital, or
through classes such as domestic abuse
intervention prevention and seminars that
cover marriage and couples counseling,
parenting skills, stress and anger manage-
ment, resolving conflict, and building self-
esteem. These courses can last one month
to a year and are free of charge.
Ultimately, however, it's the command's
responsibility to ensure that the offend-
er rIeceives the suggested treatment.
Furthermore, it's the command's duty to
see that the victim is protected if physical'
safety is a concern. One way this can be
accomplished is through a military protec-
tion order (MPO), which is similar to a
civilian temporary restraining order. When
a commanding officer issues an MPO, the
service member must live in barracks for
a set period of time. Violation of an MPO
results in disciplinary action designated by
the command.
CRC Advises the Command
If FAP identifies a low-level abuse case,
the FAP staff coordinates directly with the
command and offers recommended treat-
ments. Low-level abuse is defined as minor

physical contact and a low level of risk to
the victim, who does not fear or anticipate
future abuse. If the abuse appears to be
severe, FAP will submit the file, including
all evidence collected, to the CRC.
The CRC is a decision-making and
advisory body chaired by the FAP pro-
gram manager and includes representa-
tives from the installation, Staff Judge
Advocate, medical treatment facility,
Provost Marshals Office, Substance Abuse
Counseling Center and the command.
The CRC reviews reported spouse and
child abuse incidents and determines if
the case is substantiated. It also deter-
mines the level of violence and submits
recommendations to the command. The
CRC determines levels of violence'based on
the severity and frequency of physical and
emotional abuse and violence.
Finally, the CRC reviews each case quar-
terly until the case is closed. The CRC.fol-
lows the policies and procedures dictated
by the official CRC Handbook.
Can a Phone Call to FAP
Ruin My Career?
FAP takes all phone calls seriously. If,
after an assessment has been made and
abuse is indicated, a response will be forth-
coming within 48 hours and, if necessary,
all parties involved will be interviewed. All
calls are confidential, and FAP notifies the
command if action is needed.
A service member's career could be in
jeopardy if civil authorities or the CRC
substantiates extremely severe abuse.
The command is mandated to include this
information in the next fitness report.
Such information could hinder promotion.
Severe cases of violence or abuse may also
warrant administrative discharge or a
court martial; however, the command han-
dles each case on an individual basis.
How to Contact FAP
Every Navy and Marine Corps base has
a FAP point of contact, although each base
may offer differing violence and abuse pre-
vention programs.
A victims advocate is on call 24 hours a
day and can provide immediate assistance
if safety is a concern. All calls are screened
and evaluated by counselors who then
assess the seriousness. FAP counselors
hold a master's degree in marriage, family
and child counseling or social work and are
state-licensed therapists.
Family violence and sexual assault are
antithetical to the Navy and Marine Corps
mission and core values. In addition to
causing family dysfunction, this type of
behavior diminishes readiness and mili-
tary performance. FAP works hard to sup-
port the Navy and Marine Corps by work-
ing with the commanders to intervene and
even to prevent family violence.

Photo by MCI(AW/SW) Heather Ewton
Tim Jeror, a traffic and recreational safety specialist for BMT Designers and Planners,
conducts a safe driving class for a group of teenagers at NAS jax March 20. The class
was scheduled to coincide with the teens' spring break session and provided a produc-
tive and educational environment during the week-long vacation. "It was very educa-
tional. I learned a lot of safe driving techniques," said 15-year-old Elizabeth Tamblyn.

Spring fire

safety tips

From the NAS lax
Fire Prevention Division
Spring is here and now it's time to do
away with winter clutter that has accumu-
lated. Spring cleanup help prevent fires
in the home. Remember, cluttered areas
give fires a place'to start!
The following fire safety tips are from
your NAS Jacksonville Fire Prevention
Division:
* Dispose of boxes no longer necessary;
they can build up and invite fire into your
home.
* Store paints, fuels and all ignitable
liquids in a cool. locked metal cabinet. Do
not store chemicals that are not compatible
together, such as pool chemicals, oils, gaso-
line and cleaning products. If you're not
sure, call a fire station near your home and
ask their advice.
* Dispose of oily rags and rags used to
wipe up after fueling various mechani-
cal equipment during the winter months.
It doesn't, have to be very warm in your
garage or storage area for rags to heat
up and catch fire. Rags used to apply fur-

niture polish can also be dangerous and
should be replaced.
* Check family storage areas, attics,
basements and closets. Dispose of anything
you don't use or do not needed anymore.
At the very least, straighten things up
while observing good housekeeping prac-
tices.
. Do not place any combustible mate-
rial or items within three feet of furnaces,
water heaters or other heat sources.
* Routinely check behind and under-
neath the clothes dryer, vacuum to remove
excess lint and dust buildup.
* Before doing any outdoor burning,
contact your local fire department or the
Florida Forestry Division to obtain guid-
ance or procedures. In your area, burning
outdoors could be prohibited.
Spring cleaning is a great time for you to
help make your home fire safe. Don't give
fire a place to start!

T Tere's a scary thought -
you shut the front door
H L behind you, get into your
;tar, and actually drive away
knowing your child is alone in
the house, watching TV and eat-
ing everything in sight.
But the thought of a month's
groceries disappearing while
you're gone pales in comparison
to the frightening thoughts that
,begin entering your mind. Each
Slick of the odometer moves you
farther from your blossoming
Preteen, and your mind begins
-to race with every scary scenario
!possible.
How do you really know youi
child is ready to take this giant
Step toward independence? How
can you prepare them? There is
,no one answer or magic formula,
but there are guidelines you may
want to consider.
State Law
'The legal age at which a child
can be left home unattended var-
'ies from state to state, but is usu-
ally 12 or 13. Some states don't
specify an age, but make it ille-
gal for an adult to leave anyone
:under 18 alone if it endangers the
,child's health or welfare. Begin
:with a call to your local child pro-
tective services when determining
if your child is old enough.
Base Regulations
Every. military installation

~1

I

has definite rules about chil-
dren being left alone in quarters,
how long they can be left alone,
and at what age. (The starting
age is usually 12, but can vary.)
Regardless of the law, if you live
in quarters you are subject to
base regulations .as well. Your
housing handbook should have
a section outlining the rules on
children left at home as well as
being unaccompanied at other
base facilities, and the Provost
Marshals office will be happy to
give you guidance on this issue.
Maturity Level

Although 12 seems to be the
age at which children can be left
alone, age is not the only factor -
you must consider the individual
maturity of your son or daughter.
Think back over their history of
decision making - do they tend
to make good, sound decisions
based on their age and experi-
ence? Have you taught them not
to panic, but to think quickly
and clearly in unexpected situa-
tions? Have you practiced fire or
earthquake drills? Does the child
play with matches or lighters? Is
there a gun in the house, and is it
locked up? Where's the key? What
about the liquor cabinet? Does
your child understand the haz-
ards of electrical appliances such
as the stove, toaster, microwave,
and hair dryer?
Past' behavior is a good indi-
cator of what will happen when
you're not around, but at some
point you have to give them the
chance to prove themselves.
Small steps may be the best way
to introduce them to the responsi-
bility of staying home alone.
Does Your Child Want to
Stay IHome Alone?
Regardless of age, some chil-
dren don't want to stay home
alone. They may be uncomfort-
able because a parent is deployed,
or nervous because of heightened
alert status or recent events. Or
they may just be lonely. Talk with
your child and see how he or she
feels.

A note of caution: If your soni or
daughter isn't ready to be home
alone, for whatever reason, don't
force them into a potentially
frightening or harmful situation.
Your children's best advocate is
you, their parent, and you are
also the most familiar with your
child's ability. Given time, they
will be ready to try again, and
with more success.
Information Training
Even very young children
should be taught the basic emer-
gency numbers, but a refresher
course is probably in order for
your preteen. Post a list of work
numbers, reliable neighbors, fam-
ily, and of course 911. You also
need to teach them the correct
order of actions to take. For exam-
ple, if there's a fire, they should
get out of the house first and then
call 911 from a cell phone or a
neighbor's house. After that, they
should call the parents emergency
number.
Safety Training
Begin teaching children long
before the age of 12 not to open
the door to strangers (or even
to talk to them through a closed
door) and never to tell a caller
that they're home alone. Now is
a great time to talk with them
about keeping themselves safe,
not just from crime, but from
household accidents as well.
Basic First Aid
Band-Aids, triple antibiotic oint-
ment and CPR are tools every-

one should have, and our children
are no different. Boy Scouts, Girl,
Scouts, and the Red Cross offer
first aid and CPR lessons. If no
programs are readily available,
look around your neighborhood -/
there is usually a Navy corpsman
or two who would be happy to
cover some basics with your kids.
(Alternative means of teaching
often stick with a kid who seems
to start tuning mom and dad out
around age 12.)
Care of Younger Siblings
All too often, an oldest child gets
put into role of caregiver before
he or she is ready. In addition to
verifying the legal age at which a
child can be left to baby sit, make
sure your child is ready to care for
herself as well as other children.
Introduce kids to baby sitting by
having them start in your home,
so you'll be nearby if they need
you. A little sitter training may go
a long way toward helping your
son or daughter be a responsible
baby sitter - and who knows?
You may be borrowing money for
the movies from them.
Learning to stay home alone
is a normal step in growing up.
Under a family's watchful eye and
guidance, this new responsibility
can be learned one step at a time.
As a parent, it's your job to love,
teach, and prepare your children
to live in this world successfully.
Not an easy task, but one that
will be the greatest accomplish-
ment of your life.

First Class Petty Officer

Leadership Symposium set
From Staff
he second annual First Class Petty Officer
Leadership Symposium will be held April 4-
6 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown
- Jacksonville.
The event is being sponsored by the NAS
Jacksonville Combined Command First Class
,-Petty Officer
"Association.
Rooms have
been allocated for
attendees of the
symposium at the is
hotel. All rooms
will be at the gov-
Sernment per diem
rate of $78 per
night. All attend-
ees are responsi- _ .
",-ble for arranging .. .OR C
their own lodging.
To make reserva-
,tions, call 1-800-
233-1234 and ref-
7erence the sympo-
,slum.
; There will be
a conference fee
of $40 payable online at www.ccfcpoa.org/symipo-
sium/2007. Registration is required for guaranteed
seating. Early registration will be held at the hotel
April 3 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, call
AZ1 Daniel Rodriguez at 542-3451 or e-mail Daniel.
rodriguez7@navy.mil or TM1 Jaime Quinones at 542-
3337 or email Jaime.quinoines@navy.mil.

Each month since
the beginning of the
Medicare Part D pre-
scription drug program in
January 2006, the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) has auto-
matically enrolled individu-
als that become eligible for
both Medicaid and Medicare
benefits (so-called "dual eli-
gibles") into Medicare pre-
scription drug plans.
These auto-enrollments
generally include all dual
eligibles who are not yet
enrolled in a Medicare Part
D plan, potentially includ-
ing TRICARE beneficiaries.
"Each of these individuals
receives an enrollment noti-
fication from the CMS and
the Medicare Part D plan
that tells them about their
enrollment and their oppor-
tunity to change plans or
opt out of the Medicare Part
D plan altogether," said
Army Maj. Gen. Elder.
Granger, Deputy Director of
the TRICARE Management

Activity.
Affected TRICARE ben-
eficiaries who try to use
their TRICARE prescrip-
tion drug benefit may not
realize this occurred or may
determine that enrollment
in Medicare Part D is not
necessary.
Each individual's case
is unique and all aspects
of a person's drug cover-
age need to be considered
before making such a deci-
sion. According to federal
law, the TRICARE phar-
macy benefit is a secondary
payer to a Medicare Part
D prescription drug plan.
Therefore, TRICARE has
established payment rules
with their claims processor
to ensure compliance with
federal law. .
The TRICARE Manage-
ment Activity (TMA), the
Defense Manpower Data
Center (DMDC), and CMS
have jointly developed a
customer-focused process
for beneficiaries to resolve
Medicare Part D and
TRICARE coverage issues,
and obtain their prescrip-

tions quickly.
If a TRICARE beneficiary
is denied prescription cover-
age due to Medicare Part,
D enrollment, and believes
that he or she is not enrolled
in Medicare Part D or dis-
enrolled from Medicare Part
D, the beneficiary should
contact Express Scripts at
1-866-363-8779.
The Express Scripts cus-
tomer service representa-
tive will ask for the benefi-
ciary's permission to access
Medicare Part D coverage
information from CMS and
determine whether the ben-
eficiary is currently in a
Medicare Part D plan.
If CMS records show no
Medicare Part D cover-
age, DMDC will update
the beneficiary's Defense
Enrollment Eligibility.
Reporting System (DEERS)
information, in one busi-
ness day. Additionally, -a
representative from DMDC
will contact the beneficiary
to confirm the record cor-

reaction.
If Express Scripts dis-
covers that CMS shows
the beneficiary as having
Medicare Part D coverage,
they will advise the benefi-
ciary how to obtain confir-
mation of disenrollment or
cancellation from Medicare
Part D, and how to forward
the disenrollment or cancel-
lation information to DMDC
to update the beneficiary's
DEERS record.
Once DMDC receives this
documentation, a customer
service representative will
update the DEERS records
and telephone the beneficia-
ry to confirm the correction.
To view current Medicare
Part D enrollment status on
the Medicare Web site, ben-
eficiaries may go to www.
medicare.gov, select the
Medicare Prescription Drug
Plan Finder option, "Check
Current Enrollment"
option,. then select View
Your Current Plan" and
follow the instructions.

Medal for his impeccable leadership,
enthusiastic commitment and extraor-
dinary dedication to the squadron.
Mills then took the podium to give
hItsfinal remarks as commanding offi-
�cer of the squadron.
"Our command is the best in the
Navy. Our last deployment won us.
the Battle E, Carrier Air Wing Eight
Golden Wrench and we had 100 per-
cent operational sortie achievement.
.Our personnel have been highly
sought after during this deactivation
process," said Mills.
"Although the squadron will no lon-
ger be active, we will still have the
opportunity to enrich the future naval
service members by recounting the
best times and traditions of VS-24.
By doing so, future members of naval
aviation will continue to benefit from

L"-- W I'-' ir
Photos by MC2 Brian Smarr
Capt. Daniel Dixon, commander, Carrier
Air Wing Eight, recognizes the lasting
impact the members of VS-24 have had
to the Navy during the ceremony.
example of our great squadron. Thank
you for sharing today with us. Scout's
Rule!"
The ceremony closed with CMDCM
Jeffrey Alcott, VS-24 command pnas-
ter chief, reading "The Watch" and

VS-24 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Ted
Mills proudly recognizes the members
of his squadron during the disestablish-
ment ceremony March 22.
Mills ordering his executive officer,
Lt. Cmdr. Robin Higgs to dismiss the
squadron one last time.
VS-24 will be officially disestab-
lished Saturday.

PLAQUE: Monument presented by Lockheed Martin

From Page 1

Carrier Tactical Support Center, and
each of the eight East Coast Navy
squadrons which have flown the
Viking since its inception.
The solid granite monument weighs
more than 1,200 pounds and was
presented to the Sea Control Wing
and NAS Jacksonville by Lockheed
Martin, in honor of the S-3 commu-
nity's many decades of service to the
Navy and the nation.
The monument is located on a con-
crete base in front of the Viking static
display in Heritage Park.
Capt. Joe McClain, commander,
Sea Control Wing Atlantic, hosted the
unveiling and dedication, directly pre-
ceding a disestablishment ceremony
of the VS-24 "Scouts."
He thanked representatives of
Lockheed Martin for providing the
monument and noted that their sup-
port had been invaluable to the S-3
community's ability to adapt to the
varying missions that the S-3 has
assumed over the years.
Rick Kirkland, vice president of
Lockheed Martin's Surveillance

Enterprise, spoke for Lockheed
Martin and pointed out that, "The
S-3 Viking's ability to adapt its mis-
sion over its many years of service
has cemented its legacy as the Swiss
Army knife of naval aviation and one
of the most successful designs in car-
rier aircraft history."
As the senior attending S-3 avia-
tor, Rear Adm. Michael Miller, U.S.
Fleet Forces Command deputy chief
of staff, Global Force Management
.and Joint Operations, was invited to'
address the attendees and said, "It
is only fitting that the S-3 commu-
nity be commemorated in granite, a
stone which stands the test of time
as the S-3 Viking has stood the test
of time."
He added that the adaptability of
the venerable Viking led the way for
multi-mission aircraft like the F/A-18
Super Hornet.
Lockheed Aerospace designed and
built the S-3A Viking as a carrier-
based antisubmarine warfare (ASW)
platform in the early 1970's to replace
the Grumman S-2 Tracker.
Lockheed converted existing Vikings
to the S-3B configuration in the early

1990's, and joining with Martin
Marietta in 1995, continued to service
and upgrade the Viking airframe for
more than 30 years.
Although conceived primarily for
ASW, the Viking has proven itself so
versatile that its mission for the last
15 years has been called simply, "Sea
Control."
After the retirement of the A-
6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair II, the
Viking was the only airborne refuel-
ing platform organic to the carrier air
wing until the fielding of the F/A-18E/
F Super Hornet.
The Viking also provides electron-
ic warfare, surface, surveillance, and
over-the-horizon strike capabilities to
the carrier battle group.
Although in its Sundown phase,
with the last squadron set to dises-
tablish in early 2009, the venerable
Viking continues to adapt its mission
capabilities to the current needs of
naval aviation.
With the recent addition of a low
altitude navigation and targeting
infrared for night pod capability, the
Viking has become an extremely' valu-
able asset in the global war on terror.

FFSC offers educational and support programs

From Staff
The NAS Jacksonville
Fleet and Family
Support Center
(FFSC) Life Skills Educa-
tion and Support Program
is the foremost preventive
measure for avoidance of
personal and family prob-
lems.
All FFSC workshops and
classes are free to service,
members and their families
as well as Department of

four-year college paid for by NMCRS," said Dave
Faraldo, NAS Jax NMCRS director. "Last year $1.4"
million was given to Sailors and Marines to help them
get out of high-interest payday loans and $1.2 million
was given in combat casualty assistance because we
want to make sure the families are taken care of."
Sandra Jackson and Tanya Williams, who are both.
visiting nurses for NMCRS also spoke to the group:
They described the visiting nurse, combat casualty'
assistance and combat related assistance programs'
which provide both nursing support and financial ser-
vices for Sailors and Marines injured in combat. The"'
basic visiting nurse program also provides help with"
newborns, children and elderly who need medical care
in the home.
According to Boensel, it is the responsibility of the
key workers to inform everyone about what NMCRS is
all about. "I encourage everyone to get out there early
and make contact with everyone so they understand
how importance NMCRS is."
This year's drive is runs.through April 27. Numerous
fundraising events such as golf tournaments, car Wash-
es, bake sales and chili cookoffs are planned through-
out the next six weeks. For more information, see your
command NMCRS Fund Drive key person or contact
the local NMCRS office at 542-3515.

CHILD ABUSE: Seminar

coming up on domestic violence
From Page 3

Activities Center is sponsoring their annual spring carni!
val at the Navy Exchange parking lot.
April 23, 9-11 a.m. - What about the Kids? (The impact
of domestic violence on children)
The CDC is also seeking male volunteers to read a story
to the CDC children throughout the month of April. The
reading time is each day at 9 a.m. The book will be proi
vided. If you would like to sign up, call Ardith Lamm ai
542-2766, Ext. 113.

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Jacksonville Campus

By Ingrid Mueller
Navy MWR Public Affairs
The key to the Navy's
physical readiness pro-
gram is recognizing that
"total fitness" is a crucial ele-
ment of mission performance.
Recent upgrades to
the Physical Readiness
Information Management
System (PRIMS), including
enhanced "read only" access
and reporting procedures, help
Navy commands get a true pic-
ture of their Sailors' overall fit-
ness, while significantly reduc-
ing the administrative work-
load required to administer the
physical readiness program.
"The refinements we are
making to PRIMS support
the Navy's goal of developing
a culture of fitness," said Lt.
Cmdr. Mike Criqui, physical
readiness program manager,
Navy Morale, Welfare and
Recreation (MWR) Division,
Navy Personnel Command,

Millington, Tenn.
"Commanding officers,
executive officers and com-
mand master chiefs can now
be assigned read-only access
to all the physical readiness
program records within their
command, which will enable
them to get a better look at
the overall fitness of their
Sailors." Read-only access is
available through the com-
mand fitness leader (CFL).
All commands are re-
quired to report their physi-
cal fitness assessment (PFA)
data via PRIMS no later
than 30 days after conduct-
ing the PFA, in accordance
with guidelines established
in the Navy's Physical
Readiness Prograif instruc-
tion, OPNAVINST 6110.1G.
When using the Web-based
PRIMS, there is no need
to provide any additional
reports to Navy Personnel
Command on command par-
ticipation in PFAs.

"The purpose of PRIMS is
to make the whole adminis-
tration of the physical readi-
ness program easier for the
command and for the indi-
vidual," explained Criqui.
"PRIMS came on line Oct. 1,
2002, and has significantly
reduced the command level.
administrative workload
required to administer the
physical readiness program.
We estimate that PRIMS has
reduced record management
time by about 30 percent."
CFLs can use PRIMS to
update individual records,
receive and transfer mem-
bers' records, and create
specialized reports for their
command. Other features of
the system include risk con-
trols, PFA tracking, admin-
istrative warnings and fit-
ness enhancement program
(FEP) enrollment. Using
PRIMS -means no more
"stubby pencils" for CFLs,
as the system performs

HELPING HANDS

Hugs not Hits Ride
Volunteers are needed for the Monique Burr
.Foundation's Hugs not Hits Ride March 31 from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Help is needed in numerous areas..
For more information, email Dianne.parker@
worldnet.att.net.
Mini Football Camp
Maurice Jones-Drew and friends along with Armor
Bearer Inc. will be holding a minT football camp for
disadvantaged youth June 6-8. Volunteers are needed
in the following areas: coaches, first aid, registration
and assistants. If you are interested in any of these
positions and would like more information, please e-
mail Sonja at sonja@usojax.com.
Mentors needed
The Children's Home Society is looking for
volunteers to become mentors to children ages 4-
15 who have a parent incarcerated in prison. For
more information, call 493-7747.
Homeless shelter
The I.M. SulzbacherCenterforthe Homeless serves
more than 1,000 meals per day, every day of the
year. These meals are prepared and served with
the help of over 100 civic, religious and business
organizations from the Jacksonville community.
Serving meals at the center is a fun and feel-good
way to give back to the community. For information
about volunteering at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center
for the Homeless, call 394-1356.
Big Brother/Big Sister Program
The most direct way to impact the life of a child
in our community is to volunteer your time as a
mentor. Big Brothers/Big Sisters has more than
300 children waiting to be matched with caring
adults. We have mentor programs that will work
with nearly anyone's schedule and all mentors
Srecbive guidance and ongoing support from trained
staff members. To volunteer, call 727-9797 or send
an e-mail to ppaterson@bbbsjax.org.
Dignity U Wear
Volunteers are needed to help process clothing in
order to fulfill the needs of our clients. Volunteers
are' needed Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to

4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Contact
Michelle Charron at 636-9455 for information on
volunteering.
Help needed for Special Olympics
Volunteers are needed for Special Olympics.
Events are ongoing. For more information, call
874-4232.
USO Welcome Center
Volunteers are needed to man the USO Welcome
Center at Jacksonville International Airport. A
variety of shift times are available. Call Lynne at
305-4467 or email lynne@usojax.com for more
details.
Greeters needed
The Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and
Visitor's Bureau is looking for volunteers to meet
and greet visitors to the Jacksonville area. For
more information, call Patti O'Neal at 421-9158.
Docent volunteers needed
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Docent
Corps needs you!- Volunteers are needed to
dedicate one morning each week to give school
tours. The Cummer Docent Corps provides an
invaluable service to the museum and to its visitors.
From monthly training lectures to the finished tour,
docents use a combination of important historical
information and good humor to bring works of art
to life. If you are.interested in volunteering, please
contact Susan Gallo by phone at 899-6006 or by
e-mail at sgallo@cummer.org.
HabiJax opportunities
HabiJax is always looking for volunteers for various
construction projects. For more information, call
Bonnie Golden at 798-4529, Ext. 253. The HabiJax
Home Store also needs help coordinating donated
materials and furniture. Call 722-0737.
Habitat for Clay County
Clay County Habitat for Humanity, Inc., serves
Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, Middleburg,
Keystone Heights and Penney Farms. Volunteers
are needed Tuesday through Saturday throughout
the year to help out. For more information, call
Gamble Wright-Stuebgen at 444-8524.

the calculations for body
fat measurement and com-
putes the overall physical
readiness test performance
score. Step-by-step instruc-
tions for this user-friendly
system are available to the
CFL through the PRIMS.
"PRIMS also provides the
CFL with checks and bal-
ances to ensure risk con-
trol measures are in place
prior to conducting the

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Since 1946, the Guide Dog
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a CFC participant
Provided as a public service.

9

physical readiness test,"
added Criqui. "The sys-
tem tracks medical screen-
ings and waivers, and will
print a list of individuals
who are cleared to par-
ticipate in the physical
readiness test, along with
a list of those who axe not
cleared to participate."
Sailors can view their
records at any time through
the Navy MWR PRIMS, by

school and behavioral issues.

using the social security
number as the log-in iden-
tification and the BUPERS
Online (BOL) password as
a password.
"I encourage each indi-
vidual to check their record
on PRIMS after the PFA
has been recorded to make
sure it's correct. That way,
any discrepancies can

terms of lost- or limited-
duty days.
"Injuries have a direct
effect on readiness and a
soldier's ability to per-
form his duties, whether in
training or while deployed,"
Hauret said. "It has a direct
impact on the soldier's abil-
ity, to perform, and that
has a direct impact on that
unit's readiness."
The services' new
approach to physical train-
ing aims to bring injury
rates down while ensuring
a fit military force.
"'We're not going soft,"
Bullock said. "What we're
doing is increasing the
intensity of the training,
and the effect on heart,
lungs and overall strength
is actually better."
'the Army, for example,
is reducing the miles troops
run, breaking soldiers into
"ability groups" for distance
ruhs, adding' speed drills
to 'its PT regime and sub-
stituting grass drills and
other forms of exercise for
ruining.
"We have recommended
no;more than 30 minutes of
running, and no more than
three or four times a week,"
Bullock said.
Higher-intensity, shorter-
distance runs and interval
training increase troops'
speed and stamina with
less risk of injuries, he
said. At the same time, this
mdre balanced approach to
PT actually improves their
ability to perform in com-
bat.
"What we do in the mili-
tary is explosive energy,"
Bullock said. "Soldiers need
to 'be able to move quick-
ly.:.They need balance and
coordination. That's not
something they're going
to 'get through lumbering,

long, slow runs."
For their running pro-
grams, Bullock advises
units to incorporate these
training elements into their
programs:
Follow a standardized,
gradual and systematic pro-
gression of running distance
and speed. Begin with lower
mileage and intensity, espe-
cially in programs for new
recruits, people changing
units or those returning to
PT after time off for leave
or an injury.
Structure injury-preven-
tion programs to target
troops of average or below-
average fitness levels who
are at the greatest risk of
injury, and ensure they're
running appropriate mile-
ages.
Place troops in ability
groups based on PT scores
and measure their runs by
time, not distance. This will
reduce the .risk of injury
among the least-fit troops
without holding back the

higher performers.
Avoid remedial PT pro-
grams that require the
least-fit troops to do more
training than fit ones.
This increases their injury
risk, often with little or no
improvement in their fit-
ness.
* Substitute higher-inten-
sity, shorter-distance runs
like repeated sprints and
other interval training
activities for some distance
runs.
Build in time for troops'
bodies to recover and
rebuild following demand-
ing PT sessions to reduce
the risk of overtraining
injuries.
"Injuries are the biggest
threat to our forces and our
readiness," Bullock said.
"Our goal is to help the mil-
itary understand the bur-
den of injuries and refocus
their approach to physical
training to reduce inju-
ries in a way that actually
improves readiness."

Ortega

B)aptist church

Come worship with us

If you are looking for a
neighborhood church that
you can become a part of,
. . come worship with us.

File photo
More than 400 people participated in the Capt. Charles
Cornett Navy 10K Run and 5K Walk at NAS Jacksonville
last year. This year's event will be held April 7 at 7:30 a.m.
in the NAS Jax Navy Exchange Convenience Store parking
lot. To sign up early, stop by the base gym or Fitness Source.
Volunteers are needed to help with this event. For more infor-
mation and to sign up, call Bill Bonser at 542-2930/3239 or
email bill.bonser@navy.mil.
Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway
July 7
Tickets go on sale at I.T.T. April 13 at 9 a.m.
A variety of tickets are available for purchase ranging $45
- $126 each.
Limit four tickets per person.
LIBERTY COVE
RECREATION
Trips, activities and costs may be restricted to El-E5
single or unaccompanied active duty members." Call the
Liberty Cove Recreation Center for more details, 542-
3491.
Comedy Zone Trip
Tonight
Free appetizers and admission.
UF vs. FSU Basketball Game
April 3
$5 per person
Jax Beach Blues Festival Trip
April 7
Free
Jacksonville Sun's Baseball Game
April 12
Free

Military Appreciation Days at NAS Jax Golf Club
No green fees! Cart fee only!
April 10 and 24 for active duty.
April 12 and 26 for retirees and Department of Defense
personnel.
Junior Golf Spring Program
NAS Jax Golf Course Driving Range
Begins in April
Call for more details.
Saturday Golf Blitz
Tee times begin at 11 a.m.
$15 per person
Includes prize purse and team, individual and skins
awards.

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S he has the jitters.
He has cold feet.
They're taking the plunge.
These sayings poke fun at the way peo-
ple sometimes feel before their wedding
day, but some engaged couples may seri-
ously worry that their feelings are more
than just a case of the butterflies. Though
choosing whether to marry is ultimately a
very private decision, there are people who
can help guide you as you make your way
down the aisle.
Pre-marriage Seminars
Statistics show that marriage is much
more successful and enjoyable when cou-
ples go through counseling prior to say-
ing, "I do." Many Navy chaplains have
organized pre-marriage seminars that
teach skills to help couples prepare for a
lifetime together. Lt. Cmdr. Kim House,
chaplain at Naval Hospital Bremerton,
Wash., and Lt. Steve Barstow, chaplain
with Chaplains Religious Enrichment
Development Operation (CREDO) Pacific
Northwest, have combined efforts to create
such a program in their area.
House points out that perhaps the most
important skill learned in their seminar
is how to communicate during conflict.
"We teach the speaker-listener technique.
Listen to what your partner has to say
without interjecting. Then, using your own
words, repeat the point your partner has
just made." This technique shows respect
for your partner and minimizes misunder-
standings.
House also advises that couples should
find common interests. "You'd be surprised
how many couples come to our seminar
and can't think of one thing that they enjoy
doing together. Commit to leisure time
together and find common interests. You
have to be best friends."
To find out about pre-marriage semi-
nars available in your area, including
Prevention Relationship Enhancement
Program courses, check with your base
chaplain.

Questions to Ask Before the Big Day
In their seminar, House and Barstow
teach that there are several important
issues couples should discuss openly, well
before their wedding day.
* Motivations for marriage: Are our
motivations negative (infatuation instead
of love, for financial reasons, etc.) or posi-
tive (equal expectations, commitment to
love, etc.)?
* Know your partner: How are we simi-
lar and different? Do these similarities and
differences complement our marriage?
* Infidelity: How can we prevent infidel-
ity and build a lasting, committed relation-
ship?
* Need fulfillment: Have we communi-
cated our emotional, physical, spiritual,
social, and intellectual needs?
* Roles: How do we feel about our roles
regarding housework, shopping, yard work,
etiquette, income earning, etc.?
* Children: Do we want children? How
many? When? Will one parent stay home
with the children? Do we have a financial
plan?
* In-laws: How well do we relate to our
in-laws? What expectations do our fami-
lies place on us? What do we do with a
demanding family member?
* Independence: Is it okay to have nights
out without each other? Is it okay to have
close friends of the opposite gender? Where
should we draw the line?
* Finances: Who will handle the financ-
es? Does the non-military partner know
how to read a leave and earnings state-
ment (LES)? How will finances be handled
when the military partner is deployed?
* Military life: How can we prepare our
marriage for military separations? Does
the non-military spouse know about sup-
port systems?
House encourages couples to keep com-
municating and keep enhancing your rela-
tionship.
By taking the time to learn necessary
tools for building a healthy relationship,
you can help avoid that ball-and-chain feel-
ing and, instead, hold hands down a path
toward marital bliss.

Diabetes is a growing

problem with children

A SPOUSE'S PERSPECTIVE

Traveling With TRICARE

By Beth Wiruth
Special Contributor

M any of you may remember that
I am on the road. We are in
the midst of a PCS move with
a five and a half-month school along
the way. Scott and I have been living
out of suitcase since October 2006. This
extended time on the road prompted
this week's column. Medical care on the
road is available but can be frustrating
if you don't have a few basic facts.
TRICARE is the military's heath sys-
tem for family members. TRICARE is
divided into four geographical regions,
TRICARE North, TRICARE South,
TRICARE West and TRICARE Overseas.
Each region contracts with private pro-
viders. For instance, TRICARE North's
contract provider is Healthnet Federal
Services and TRICARE West's provid-
er is TriWest Healthcare Alliance. This
information is important to know as you
travel. If you -are not near a Military
Treatment Facility (MTF) you will need
to contact the local region's TRICARE
provider for authorization for service and
location of treatment facilities.
Many of us never use our TRICARE
card. We present our dependent ID at our
local MTF or clinic. That card serves to
take the place of our TRICARE card and
other insurance processes shared by our
civilian counterparts. When traveling you
will need that card for both the informa-
tion it provides and to access services.
Before we talk about the steps to access
care on the road it is important to know
that a medical emergency takes priority.
If you have a medical emergency while
traveling seek medical attention imme-
diately from the nearest medical facility
(whether military or civilian). Once the
emergency is stabilized you have time to
contact your TRICARE Service Center to
make them aware of the situation. They
will give you information to proceed.
Non-emergency care can be obtained at
the nearest MTF or TRICARE provider.
If an MTF is available you can simply
call the facility's family practice appoint-
ment line and make an appointment
or, if warranted, proceed to emergency
care. I experienced a problem getting an
appointment but after a little digging'

discovered the young lady answering the
phone was new and didn't know what to
do with me. You can be treated at any
MTF - Army, Air Force, Navy, etc.
If you do not have access to a MTF
obtaining non-emergency care requires a
bit of coordination with TRICARE. It is
recommended that as part of your trav-
el preparations you visit the TRICARE
website and obtain the toll free numbers
of the TRICARE regions you will be trav-
eling to and through (yup, things happen
on the road). May I recommend that you
put the toll free numbers on the back of
your TRICARE card then you will always
have them when needed?
Call the appropriate region's toll free
number (the one where you are visiting).
The representative will guide you to the
nearest TRICARE affiliated provider as
well as give you an authorization num-
ber. The provider will need this number
to bill TRICARE for your care. The rep-
resentative will provide you with the
local address and contact number of the
provider as well as any other information
needed for that particular provider.
Just to note, if you are out of your
home TRICARE region it will not be ben-
eficial to call your region for authoriza-
tion or providers. The various regions do
not share database information. Stop by
your local TRICARE Service Center and
pick up their color brochure entitled, "On
the Road with TRICARE" for more infor-
mation and all regional numbers.
The last 'Traveling with TRICARE'
tip is in regard to pharmacy services.
Perhaps you have a prescription to fill
after being seen by a physician or need
to have a refill of an existing prescrip-
tion. You can contact the local TRICARE
region for a referral to a local TRICARE
participating pharmacy. By the way,
most CVS Pharmacies and Walgreen's
are TRICARE participating pharmacies.
Of course if you are near an MTF, their
pharmacy can fill your prescription.
I hope your travels are never marked by
the need for medical services on the road,
but it is best to be prepared with your
TRICARE card, numbers and knowledge.
Do you have questions, comments or a
topic you would like Beth to cover? Contact
her at beth.wiruth@homefrontinfocus.com.

By Lissa Wohltmann
LIFELines

Once upon a time, children literal-
ly ran around and played outside.
They had to be coaxed inside, away
from all the physical frolicking, to eat
their daily home-cooked, healthful dinner.
The behavior of today's children is quite the
opposite, resulting in obesity and/poor health.
In fact, obesity has more than doubled
in 20 years for 6- to 11-year-olds and more
than tripled in the 12- to 19-year-old cat-
egory. About 15.5 percent of children ages
12 to 19 and 15.3 percent of children ages 6
to 11 are obese.
The obesity statistics in England is even
more harrowing; it has grown almost 400
percent in 25 years. Three-quarters of the
adult population is now overweight, 22 per-
cent of the population is obese and the child-
hood obesity.has tripled in the past 20 years.
Other countries such as Japan, China, India
and Australia are also following in our fatal
footsteps in their growing obesity problem.
Obese children pose a unique problem to
society. They are part of "a generation that
may not live as long as their parents," said
Diane Sarantakos, director of the American
Diabetes Association in Oklahoma City.
Kids' obesity is directly linked to being
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes was once called "adult
onset diabetes" yet now children as young
as 4-years of age are being diagnosed with
this potentially fatal disease.
Clinically-based reports and regional

studies suggest that type 2 diabetes is
being diagnosed more frequently in chil-
dren and adolescents, yet the nationally
representative data that would be needed
to monitor diabetes trends in youth by type
are not available.
Left untreated, type 2 diabetes increases
your risk for serious complications such as
heart disease, blindness, nerve damage,
and kidney damage.
If the decline rate of health continues as
it is, by the year 2050, one in three people
born in the 21st century will have type 2
diabetes, Sarantakos said.
There are a lot of factors contributing to
such an increase rate of declining health.
"The most identifiable is the lack of exer-
cise," Sarantakos explained. "Some of the
schools are eliminating recess in their
schedules. That's insane. We're causing
our children to become obese."
Also people are not burning off the excess
calories they are eating. It's easier and
cheaper to eat the fast, fat-laden, non-
nutritious foods, then to carefully select
and consume wholesome food.
People want instant gratification,
Sarantakos said.
Parents, specifically, are in such a hurry
to take their kids to soccer practice, dance
practice or a school activity, they forget
that good nutrition is just as important as
physical activity.
The quick answer to this "big" problem
is fairly straight-forward but tough to fol-
low without discipline."Diet and exercise,"
advised Sarantakos.

.R. W,

PRIMS: Online tracking of PT beneficial to fitness

* From Page 16

be resolved at the command level," said
Criqui.
As part of the checks and balances built
into the system, CFLs can only make
changes to the records of members assigned
to their command. In addition, after six
months of PFA completion, record chang-
es can only be made by Navy Personnel
Command, which requires a letter from
the individual's commanding officer grant-
ing authorization to make the changes.
"A gaining command cannot edit a record
that was input by a previous command,
even if it was within six months. You can
only edit records from your own UIC (unit
-identification code)," said Criqui. "So, if a

record from a previous command needs to
be edited, we need to get a letter from that
previous commanding officer to make the
change. That's another reason why - espe-
cially on a transfer - Sailors should check
their records on PRIMS."

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JAx SPORTS

Tennis tourney slated
A men and women's singles tennis tournament will be held April
23 at 5 p.m. The tournament is free and open to all NAS Jax
authorized men and women over 18. There will be a separate
men and women's division. Matches will be played at the Guy
Ballou Tennis Complex. Awards will be given for each division.
Call NAS Jax Athletics to sign up by April 20.
Navy Southeast Regional
Running and Triathlon Team
Are you a competition runner? If so, you can represent the Navy
in 5K, 10K, marathons and triathlons. The Navy will showcase
elite active duty men and women in regional races. Uniforms are
provided as well as transportation, entry fees and lodging costs.
Interested runners must compete in a sanctioned (USA Track
and Field, USA Triathlon Association, or Roadrunners Clubs of
America) race and your time must be one of top 10 regional
qualifying times. For more information, call 270-5451.
Southeast regional qualifying times:
5K Men 19:00 Women 24:00
10K Men 34:00 Women 46:00
Marathon Men 3 hours, 30 min.
Women 4 hours
Triathlon Men 2 hours, 30 min.
Women 3 hours
Sports officials and scorekeepers needed
The North Florida Military Officials Association is looking for
individuals to officiate soccer, softball, football and volleyball
at NAS Jax. Scorekeepers are also needed for basketball.
Experience is not required. If interested, contact the NAS Jax
Gym.
For more information on NAS Jax sporting events,
call Bill Bonser at 542-2930/3239 or email bill.bonser@
navy.mil.

From the Florida Automotive
Industry Association

ising fuel costs are onr the
minds of most Americans
these days as gas prices are
expected to top $3 per gallon in com-
ing weeks. Sure, you can simply stop
driving as much, but for many con-
sumers, that's not an option. But
there are two ways all of us can
stretch our precious gasoline dollars.
One strategy is to change how we
drive, and the other is to perform sim-
ple and inexpensive vehicle mainte-
nance. Taking these steps will not
only save gas money, but will improve
a vehicle's safety and dependability.
National Car Care Month in April
is an ideal time for motorists to
review the factors that can impact
fuel economy. According to the Car
Care Council, the most common are
under-inflated tires, dirty air filters,
old spark plugs and something as
simple as the gas cap.
* Check your vehicle gas cap. About
17 percent of the vehicles on the roads
have gas caps that are either dam-
aged, loose or are missing altogether,
causing 147 million gallons of gas to

* Aggressive driving can lower gas
mileage by as much as 22 percent on
the highway and five percent on city
streets, which results in seven to 49
cents per gallon.
* Sitting idle gets zero miles per
gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up
for one to two minutes is sufficient.
* Gas mileage decreases rapidly at
speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driv-
en over 60 results in an additional
10 cents per gallon. To maintain a
constant speed on the highway, cruise
control is recommended.
Last year, vehicle check-up events
conducted throughout the country
revealed that nearly nine out of 10
cars required some type of mainte-
nance. This reinforces the need for
the motoring public to become more
aware of the maintenance needs of
their vehicle to save money, conserve
energy, improve highway safety and
help protect the environment.
Every motorist can receive a free
56-page Car Care Guide that takes
the guesswork out of vehicle main-
tenance by visiting the Car Care
Council's Web site at www.carcare;.
org.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The Navy Wives Clubs of America,
NWCA Jax No. 86 meets the first
Wednesday of each month. Meetings are
held in Building 612 on Jason Street at
NAS Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. The Thrift
Shop is open Tuesdays and Thursdays
and the first Saturday of the month from
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, call
772-0242 or Pearl Aran at 777-8032.
The Navy Wives Club's DID No. 300
meetings are held the second Thursday
of each month at 7 p.m. at the Oak Crest
United Methodist Church Education
Building at 5900 Ricker Road. For more
information, call 387-4332 or 272-9489.
The Disabled American Veterans Chapter
38 meetings are held the second Tuesday
of each month at 7 p.m. at 470 Madeira
Drive, Orange Park, Fla. The chapter
also has service officers available
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 -
4 p.m. to help.with claims. To make an
appointment or for more information, call
269-2945. The chapter also offers bingo
every Saturday at 10 a.m. The public is
welcome.
The Clay County Chapter 1414, National
Active and Retired Federal Employees

invites all active and retired employees to
their regular monthly meeting the second
Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at St.
Vincent's Medical Facility in Orange Park.
For more information, call 276-9415.
The Navy Jacksonville Yacht Club
general membership meetings are held
at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of
every month at the clubhouse (Building
1956) adjacent to the Mulberry Cove
Marina. Boaters and non-boaters are
invited to attend. The Navy Jax Yacht
Club is a members only club open to all
active duty, reservists, retired military and
active and retired Department of Defense
civilians. For more information, call 778-
0805 or email commodore@njyc.org.
Parents Without Partners meet-
ings are held the second Sunday of
every month at 7 p.m. at The Country
Cabin restaurant located on Blanding
Boulevard. This organization is open
to any single, divorced, separated, or
widowed that have children of any ages.
For more information, please check out
our Web site at www.pwpnflorida.com or
call 307-6261.
MOMS Club of Orange Park/West-

side holds their monthly meeting the
second Thursday of each month at 10
a.m. at the Calvary United Methodist
Church, 112 Blanding Boulevard across
from the Orange Park Mall. Moms and
children are welcome at all activities. For
information contact Nicole Lopez at 504-
6016 or go to momsclubopw@yahoo.
com.
The Association of Aviation Ord-
nancemen's meeting is held the third
Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the
Fleet Reserve Center on Collins Road.
For more information, call AO1 Michael
Steckly at 542-5508 or Jim Bohac at 542-
2939. You can also visit www.aao9.com.
The First Coast Black Nurses
Association, Inc. holds their meetings-
the second Tuesday of each month at 6
p.m. in the Shands Hospital Blue room.
For more information, call Janneice
Moore at 563-4645.
The local chapter of the Military Officers
Association of America meets for a
dinner program the third Wednesday
of each month at 6 p.m. at the NAS
Jax Officers' Club. All active, retired
and reserve officers of all services are

encouraged to attend. For reservations
or more information, call 772-0237.
The Westside Jacksonville Chapter
1984, National Active and Retired
Federal Employees Association
extends an open invitation to all currently
employed and retired federal employees
to our regular meeting held at 1 p.m. on
the fourth Thursday of each month at the
Murray Hill United Methodist Church,
(Fellowship Hall Building) at 4101
College Street. For more information, call
R. Carroll at 786-7083.
The National Naval Officers Associa-
tion holds its monthly meeting on the
fourth Thursday each month at 5:30 p.m.
at the Jacksonville Urban League, 903
West Union Street. Interested personnel
are encouraged to attend or contact Lt.
Cmdr. Herlena Washington at 542-7715,
Ext. 102 or email Herlena.Washington@
sar.med.navy.mil.
The Gold Wing Road Riders Associa-
tion, Chapter FL1-X meets on the
first Wednesday of each month at 6:30
p.m. at the Golden Coral, 582 Blanding
Boulevard. The "Winghutts" invite all
those interested in motorcycling and

motorcycle safety. They also have a
weekly get together at the Dairy Queen
on Kingsley Avenue at 7 p.m. every
Friday night. For more information, call
269-5369 or visit www.fllx.org.
The second annual Friends of BASCA
Golf Classic is tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
at the Eagle Harbor Golf Club. BASCA
is a Clay County non-profit organization
that helps disabled men, women and
children in Northern Florida. For more
information, call Marj at 338-5443 or Ron
at 614-5301.
A Native Plant Fair sponsored by
The Nature Conservancy and City of
Jacksonville will be held Saturday from 9
a.m. to noon at Westside Regional Park:
The event is being held to educate the
community on invasive, non-native plants
in the area. For more information, call
598-0004.
A Garage Sale will be held Saturday
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Moosehaven on
Highway 17. The event will help send
Clay County World War II veterans to
the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC.
To donate goods or for more information,
call 264-1440.

Born

4ucky

"A Paid Vacation for My Military Clients Only"

I am Dedicated to Serving Military families with all their Peal estate
JSeeds. I can f-Ielp You Sell YourfJ-Iomne ast or I can JIelp you find the
PeifectJ-Iome ,Aast.

vaporize every year.
* When tires aren't inflated prop-
erly, it's like driving with the parking
brake on, and can cost a mile or two
per gallon.
* A vehicle can have either four,
six or eight spark plugs, which fire
as many as three million times each
1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat,
electrical and chemical erosion. A
dirty spark plug causes misfiring,
which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need
to be replaced regularly.
* An air filter that is clogged with
dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air
and creates a "rich" mixture - too
much gas being burned for the amount
of air, which wastes gas and causes
the engine to lose power. Replacing
a clogged air filter can improve gas
mileage by as much as 10 percent,
saving about 15 cents on a gallon.

JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 29, 2007 19

Car tips to save gasoline money

20 JAx AIR NEws, NAS J..\(:S( NV.I., Thursday, March 29, 2007

JaxAir ews assifie

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CLASSIFIED INDEX

Auctions

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ComTmer-"c Ia"RIeal!Estatie]ZPts/ aLs

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t@ Ws* 904-366-6300

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I I

Happy Ads
Lost and Found
Clubs and
Organizations
Rides/Travel
Notices
Personals
Dating and
Entertainment

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you pick the home, and
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armed guard license
Benefits Include:
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$9.50 to $10.25 per hour
$500 Sign On Bonus
S1000 Bonus for
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\isil our %%eb site at M s~m".daili sslores.com.
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Organization:

Signature:

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